COMMERCE – The No. 9 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team started the 2021 season on the right foot, picking up wins over Arkansas Tech and Texas A&M International in the first day of the Lion Invitational on Friday.
 
The Lions used a sixth inning rally to defeat Arkansas Tech 5-3 in the opener, and Alyssa LeBlanc (Katy) earned the fifth no-hitter in program history in the second game, as the Lions rolled to a 13-0 win over A&M International in five innings.
 
A&M-Commerce (2-0 overall) faces off against the same two teams on Saturday, starting at 12:30 vs. A&M International.
 
HEAD COACH RICHIE BRUISTER AFTER THE GAMES
 
A&M-COMMERCE 5, ARKANSAS TECH 3
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Madison Schaefer (Frisco - Independence) was the Lions' offensive leader, going 3-for-4 with a homerun, a double, and two RBIs.
- Uxua Modrego (Burlada, Spain) was 2-for-3 with a triple.
- LeBlanc had a two-run homer and picked up the win in the circle with 2.0 scoreless innings of relief, striking out two. Emily Otto (Lamar Consolidated) had no decision in the start but struck out eight and allowed only one earned run on three hits in 5.0 innings
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lions loaded the bases in the first with a Schaefer leadoff single, a Kinsie Hebler (Cy-Fair) walk, and Avery Boley (Fort Worth – Nolan Catholic) reaching on catcher's interference. Unfortunately, the Lions were unable to convert the runners into runs.
 
The Golden Suns took the lead in the top of the fourth with one out when Makenzie Addis hit a homerun off the top of the left field foul pole. A walk and an infield error put runners on the corners but the Lions limited the damage to the one run.
 
A&M-Commerce flipped the lead in the bottom of the fifth with the Lions' first runs of the season. Schaefer led off the inning with a massive homerun to left-center on a full count to tie the game. LeBlanc bombed a two-run homer just under the scoreboard with one out to give the Lions the 3-1 lead.
 
Arkansas Tech loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth on a throwing error, single, and hit batter. LeBlanc entered the game in the circle but the Golden Suns were able to tie the game with a bases loaded walk and a sacrifice fly.
 
Modrego led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and advanced to scoring position on a throwing error on a failed pickoff. A Samantha Dutton (Tulsa, Okla.) sacrifice bunt moved her to third and a pinch hit single up the middle by Serina Aguilar (Spring – Woods) gave the Lions a 4-3 lead. Schaefer followed that up by ripping an RBI double to the left-center gap to push the lead to 5-3.
 
LeBlanc retired the Golden Suns in order in the seventh to seal the victory.
 
A&M-COMMERCE 13, A&M INTERNATIONAL 0 (5 innings)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- LeBlanc cruised in the circle for the fifth-ever Lion no-hitter, striking out eight. She did not allow a baserunner until a one-out walk in the fourth. She also went 1-for-2 with a double and a sacrifice fly.
- Mackenzi Dugi (St. Hedwig – East Central) was 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, and three RBIs.
- Avery Boley (Ft. Worth – Nolan Catholic) was 2-for-3 with a two-run homer.
- Modrego hit a two-run homer in the second inning.
- Chealsea Slider (Texarkana) drove in two runs and Schaefer drew two walks and drove in a run.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game Two)
Schaefer led off with a walk and scored on Dugi's hard-hit triple to left-center. Dugi scored from third on an error, and Avery Boley smashed her first homer of the season to right field to plate a pair and give the Lions a 4-0 lead after one inning of action.
 
The second inning started when Slider reached on a Dutton triple and she scored on a passed ball. Ta'Lyn Moody (Mansfield – Legacy) singled to center, Schaefer walked, and Dugi's double to right center brought that duo home for a 7-0 lead. LeBlanc's sacrifice fly was the first out of the inning on the sixth batter, and Slider brought home a run when she reached on an error, Modrego blasted a two-run homer down the left field line, and Schaefer closed out the inning's scoring with an RBI single. The Lions led 12-0 after two frames.
 
LeBlanc hit a one-out double in the third and pinch runner Mairady Dempsey (Lavaca, Ark.) scored on Slider's RBI single to finish off the day's scoring for the Lions.
 
LeBlanc retired the first 10 batters before allowing a walk, but struck out the final five Dustdevils in succession to earn her first career no-hitter. She is the third Lion to ever have a no-hitter, as Otto and Hebler each have a pair.