SILVER CITY, N.M. – The No. 3 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team extended its winning streak to eight games with a pair of run-rule victories over Western New Mexico University on Friday afternoon.
 
The Lions won 12-2 and 19-9, with each game completed in five innings.
 
A&M-Commerce is now 12-4 overall and 6-0 in Lone Star Conference play, while Western is 1-5 overall and in the league.
 
The Lions will play at UT Permian Basin in Odessa on Sunday with a noon doubleheader.
 
GAME ONE
Patience at the plate paid off for the Lions in the opening game as they tied a program record by drawing 14 walks. Five Lions had multiple walks, led by three from Samantha Dutton (Tulsa, Okla.).
 
The Lions plated eight runs in the top of the first inning, with Uxua Modrego (Burlada, Spain) driving in three runs, and the last three runs scoring on walks.
 
The scoreless streak ended at 34 innings with a 2-run Mustang homer cutting the lead to 8-2 in the first, but Kinsie Hebler (Cy-Fair) answered with a 2-run bomb of her own in the fourth. Mackenzie Dugi (St. Hedwig – East Central) brought home a run with a sacrifice fly, and Alyssa LeBlanc (Katy) closed out the scoring with a solo homer in the fifth.
 
Emily Otto (Lamar Consolidated) earned the win in the circle, striking out seven.
 
GAME TWO
Madison Schaefer (Frisco – Independence) led off the game with a solo homer to lead an offensive onslaught. She went 3-for-3 with two homers and a walk, driving in three and scoring four.
 
Serina Aguilar (Spring – Woods), Modrego, LeBlanc, and Hebler all had two RBIs in the 19-run outpouring of offense. The 19 runs were the fourth-most scored in a single game by the Lions.

LeBlanc picked up her ninth win of the season with 4.1 innings of work, allowing two runs and striking out six.