CLAREMORE, Okla. – The No. 2 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team hit a speed bump on Tuesday, dropping a pair of non-conference games to No. 12 Rogers State University.
 
The Lions were victims of an 8-0 five-inning loss in the opener, then missed opportunities in a 4-3 walkoff loss in the second game.
 
A&M-Commerce is now 21-8 on the season while RSU is 16-8 on the season. The two teams split the four-game season series with both teams sweeping on their home diamond.
 
The Lions are away from the diamond for the Easter break and return to action on Friday, April 9 at Texas A&M International to start a four-game South Texas swing.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game One)
- The Lions were limited to five hits in the game, with Samantha Dutton (Tulsa, Okla.) going 2-for-2. Chealsea Slider (Texarkana – Texas High) had a double.
- Emily Otto (Lamar Consolidated) was hit for the loss, allowing eight runs – seven earned – on 10 hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 4.0 innings.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game One)
Throughout the game, the Lion offense struggled to convert on opportunities, stranding runners in scoring position in four of the five innings.
 
The Hillcats took advantage of openings, with a two-run homer in the first and four runs in the third. The hosts closed out the run-rule margin in the fourth with a solo homer and an RBI single. Abigail Taylor drove in three runs and Danelle Day drove in two. Starting pitcher Andrea Morales struck out seven and allowed only five hits and a walk.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game Two)
- The Lions had four hits in the game, all going for extra bases. Alyssa LeBlanc (Katy) hit a two-run homer in the first.
- Dutton, Madison Schaefer (Frisco – Independence), and Ta'Lyn Moody (Mansfield – Legacy) all had doubles.
- LeBlanc allowed four runs in 6.1 innings on four hits, striking out seven and walking three.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game Two)
The Lions ended their scoreless streak in the top of the first with a two-out rally. Mackenzie Dugi (St. Hedwig – East Central) walked and LeBlanc launched a homer to right for a 2-0 lead.
 
Both teams had chances in the second, as the Lions had a runner thrown out at home, and an RSU equipment violation after an apparent homerun resulted in the Hillcats' Day being called out.
 
The Lions stranded a runner in scoring position in the fourth, and RSU jumped on a chance in the bottom, with a walk, single, and homer giving the home side a 3-2 lead.
 
A&M-Commerce tied the game in the fifth when Schaefer doubled to right, stole third, and scored on a laser hit by Dutton up the middle.
 
Moody led off the top of the seventh with a double, and a pair of walks loaded the bases, but two opportunities to score the runner from third were wasted by the Lions. RSU was able to put runners on second and third with one out, and a ball to the right side forced a tough play, and the RSU runner slid around a potential tag to give the home team the sweep.