COMMERCE – The fifth-seeded Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team kept fans on the edge of their seat before a bases loaded strikeout by Emily Otto gave the Lions a 4-3 win over fourth-seeded Colorado Mesa in the opening round of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament.
 
With the win, the Lions move their record to 29-16 on the season and advance to the winner's bracket quarterfinals against top-seeded Oklahoma Christian at noon Thursday. The Mavericks fall to 38-4 on the season and play in an elimination game this evening.
 
Based on new guidance from the NCAA, starting with Thursday's games, the South Central Regional will be 100% capacity with no masking requirements. Tickets are available at www.WeAreLionsTix.com.
 
The Lions capitalized on their minimized opportunities, and pitching came in clutch down the stretch.
 
A&M-Commerce opened the scoring in the top of the first, as Kimber Qualls (Humble – Atascocita) and Alyssa LeBlanc (Katy) hit solo homers to give the Lions an early 2-0 lead.
 
LeBlanc was perfect through the first two innings in the circle before Mesa scraped together two runs in the third to tie the game at 2-all.
 
In the top of the fifth, Chealsea Slider (Texarkana – Texas High) led off with a double, then pinch runner Da'Jia Davis (Waco Midway) advanced to third on a groundout and gave the Lions a 3-2 lead when she scampered home on a passed ball.
 
Slider instigated an inning-ending double play on defense in the bottom of the fifth to fire the Lions up, and the offense responded in the sixth. Qualls walked, went to second on a sacrifice bunt, third on a groundout, and scored when Kinsie Hebler (Cy-Fair) beat out an infield single, making it 4-2.
 
The Mavericks battled back in the bottom of the seventh, showing why they entered the tournament with only three losses. LeBlanc issued a pair of walks and was relieved by Emily Otto (Lamar Consolidated). A pair of singles scored one run and loaded the bases, putting the game-winning run in scoring position.
 
Otto then induced a flyout and closed the game with two straight strikeouts, with a punchout looking sending the Lion dugout into celebration mode.
 
LeBlanc moved her record to 16-10, allowing three runs – one earned – on four hits with four walks and nine strikeouts in six-plus innings. Otto earned her first save of the season with the scoreless seventh inning.
 
Neal, LeBlanc, Hebler, and Slider collected the Lions' four hits, with three going for extra bases.