DAHLONEGA, Ga. – After falling to the No. 5 North Georgia Nighthawks, 5-1 on Friday afternoon, the No. 22 ranked Texas A&M-Commerce softball team bounced back with a 9-1 win in five innings over Davis & Elkins in the nightcap at the Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium.
 
The loss to the Nighthawks snapped the four-game winning streak for the Lions, who hold a 6-2 record after the first day of the Captain D's Surf 'N Turf Classic. The Lions take on both teams again over the next two days.
 
"I am very pleased with the game against Davis & Elkins. We needed that, especially after the way we played this morning, but we have another opportunity tomorrow," said interim head coach Gay McNutt.
 
Uxua Modrego (Burlada, Spain) had three RBIs on the day, while Allison Gonzalez (South Padre Island – Port Isabel) picked up the win in her first appearance in game two.
 
"Really proud of our freshman pitcher Allison Gonzalez coming in for relief in the second game. She knew what her job was, and she went out and did it," added McNutt.
 
GAME 1: No. 5 North Georgia 5, No. 22 A&M-Commerce- 1
After an 1-2-3 inning for the Lions in the top of the first, the Nighthawks loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning, with a walk and two hits. Emily Otto (Lamar Consolidated) punched out Georgia Blair to end the inning and left the bases loaded.
 
Alyssa LeBlanc (Katy) drew a walk to start the second. Ayanna Williams (Round Rock – Cedar Ridge) drew a walk as well. LeBlanc moved to third on a fielders' choice and scored the first run of the game on a sacrifice-fly by Modrego.
 
The Nighthawks added three runs in the bottom of the second. Marley Holmes got on base with a lead-off double and was pinch run for by Grayson Perry. With two on and no outs, Madi Perry singled to center and Grayson Perry scored on a throwing error by the Lions.
 
Hannah Forehand scored the Nighthawks' second run of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Olivia Sinquefie. Madi Perry stole home to make it 3-1. North Georgia had a runner at second with one out when Gracie Mixson came to bat. She hit a line drive to third base, which was caught by Madison Schaefer (Frisco – Independence) and she threw to second with Jolie Lester off the base. The double play ended the inning.
 
Otto pitched two innings and got her first loss of the season, she is now 3-1 on the young season. She surrendered two earned runs on three walks and three hits. She had two strikeouts. LeBlanc came in relief in the third and pitched the rest of the game.
 
The Lions did not garner a hit for the first four innings. MacKenzie Dugi (St. Hedwig – East Central) broke up the no-hitter with a single in the top of the fifth, which was their only hit of the game. Through the first five innings, the Lions left five runners on base.
 
Hannah Forehand drilled a two-run home run to deep center field to make it 5-1 in the sixth. Mariah Wicker scored on the play. Those two runs were the only two on LeBlanc's ledger. She gave up three hits and a walk in four innings of work, striking out three.
 
Denton Tybee closed out the one-hitter by allowing just one base runner in the final two innings. She gave up six walks and hit two batters in the complete game win, she is 3-0 on the season. She had eight punch outs.
 
GAME 2: No. 22 A&M-Commerce 9, Davis & Elkins 1 (Five Innings)
The first two hitters got on base for the Senators with singles. Maddie Levelle hit a single to left and Anjolina Gutierrez tried to score from second but was tagged at home plate. Mia Mendoza popped up to end the inning.
 
Dugi batted in the lead-off spot for the first time this season and drew a walk in the first. Leo Terry (Emory – Rains) hit a bunt single to get on base. The two runners moved up a base on a wild pitch. After another walk, Dugi scored on a bases loaded walk drawn by Avery Boley (Fort Worth – Nolan Catholic). Sabrina Anguiano (Riverside, Calif.) also drew a bases loaded walk to make it 2-0, bringing home Terry.
 
The Lions added two more runs in the bottom of the second. Samantha Dutton (Tulsa, Okla.) got on base with a walk, she stole second base and scored on a single by Dugi. Terry moved Dugi to third on a ground out and she scored on an RBI ground out by Schaefer. With two outs, the Lions had runners at second and third, but the Senators kept it at 4-0.
 
In the top of the fourth, Senators drew three straight walks. Gonzalez came in relief of Otto and she retired the next three batters to end the inning. This was the first career appearance for the freshman pitcher.
 
Terry made it 5-0 in the bottom of the third. Modrego singled up the middle, stole second, then stole third, and scored on a base hit to left field by Terry.
 
Two more runners crossed home plate for the Lions in the fourth. Boley drew a walk, she was pinch run for by Alina Jasso (San Benito), who stole second. Anguiano moved Jasso to third on a single and she moved into scoring position by stealing second. Modrego hit a single up the middle to drive in Anguiano and Jasso.
 
Being a run away from falling via the run-rule, the Senators scored their first run of the game in the top of the fifth. Trinity Cossette drew a walk and moved to third on a fielding error and she scored an unearned run on a single by Lavelle.
 
The Senators had two runners on base with one out, the Lions limited the danger with a 9-6 double play to tag Mendoza at second base.
 
Terry singled up the middle to start the bottom of the fifth, Schaefer brought both runners into scoring position with a double to left. Terry scored on a wild pitch and Schaefer, the run-rule clinching run, moved to third. After a walk from Williams, Boley reached on a fielder's choice. Anguiano drove in Schaefer with a base hit to left field.
 
Gonzalez pitched three innings, giving up just one hit and one walk, she was not charged with any runs and is now 1-0 on the season. Otto allowed four hits and three walks over two innings and got a no decision.
 
Haley Grindstaff got the loss for the Senators. She allowed five walks, two hits, and four earned runs. Linzey Allard gave up an earned run in two innings of work and Emily Bowen gave up four runs and six hits in one inning.
 
Dugi, Terry, Williams, Boley, Jasso, Anguiano, Modrego, and Dutton had a stolen base each. Terry went 3 for 4 in the game, Anguiano and Modrego went 2 for 3, with each driving in two runs. Boley drew three walks.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions play the Nighthawks once again on Saturday at 2 p.m. EST and Florida Southern at 4 p.m. EST.