CANYON – Uxua Modrego did something on Saturday for the Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team that has not been done by a Lone Star Conference hitter since the conference sponsored the sport in 1997.
The outfielder from Burlada, Spain, hit four home runs in the 23-5 win over Adams State. The Lions closed out the day with a 9-1 win in five innings over the Northern State Wolves on a busy day at Schaeffer Park.
A&M-Commerce is winners of five straight and three of its four wins this weekend have come via the run-rule. The Lions are 11-4 on the season.
Modrego's four home runs are most by any player in all three divisions of NCAA softball this season and just the eighth occurrence in Division II history.
Interim head coach
Gay McNutt says, "This team is having so much fun. The only thing I can say about Uxua (Modrego) is, 'Wow!' She has been amazing all weekend.
"Chanlee (Oakes) threw a great game, and Allison (Gonzalez) came in to close it out just the way she's supposed to. It's great to see our freshman pitchers do good things."
In game two,
Alyssa LeBlanc (Katy) continued her dominance in the circle, collecting 12 strikeouts in the five-inning win. McNutt added, "LeBlanc threw another great game."
"Our hitters are just really zoned in right now, which gives our pitchers and defense so much confidence."
GAME 1: A&M-Commerce 23, Adams State 5 (Five Innings)
The Grizzlies had the first two runs of the game. Jade Garbiso singled up the middle, stole second, and scored on a throwing error. Sydney Muniz also reached on that error, and she scored on a triple by Mariah Madrid.
Eleven batters came to bat for the Lions in the bottom of the first and seven runs were scored on four hits and two errors.
Madison Schaefer (Frisco – Independence) reached on an error and advanced a base on a walk by
Leo Terry (Emory – Rains). Both advanced another base on a wild pitch.
LeBlanc hit an infield grounder that was not fielded by the Wolves and Schaefer scored on the error.
Avery Boley (Fort Worth – Nolan Catholic) doubled to left and plated Terry, while LeBlanc went to third. Boley and LeBlanc scored on a double by Sabriana Anguiano (Riverside, Calif.), who scored on Modrego's first home run of the day.
UXUA MODREGO'S FIRST HOME RUN HIGHLIGHT
Alina Jasso (San Benito) kept the inning going by hitting a triple and stole home for the Lions' seventh run. The Grizzlies got the final two outs of the inning to keep it at 7-1.
Adams State added two more in the top of the second on a two-run home run by Kylea Wall, Savannah Hoisington scored on the play as well.
Ayanna Williams (Round Rock – Cedar Ridge) doubled to left center to lead off the second. She stole third and scored on the play after the Grizzlies had a throwing error. LeBlanc was the next batter and hit a double to right center, Boley reached base again, this time on a hit by pitch. Anguiano drove in LeBlanc with a single.
With no outs and having already scored two runs in the inning,
Destiny Whitburn (Dodd City – Ector) scored the Lions' third run of the inning. Anguiano was caught stealing, but the throw allowed Whitburn to score. Modrego's second home run followed, this time it was with the bases empty.
UXUA MODREGO'S SECOND HOME RUN HIGHLIGHT
Jasso batted after Modrego and drew a walk. She scored on a triple by Mackenzie Dugi (St. Hedwig – East Central), who scored on an RBI double by Schaefer. The Lions loaded the bases with one out, but Adams State got a double play to end the inning.
The Grizzlies' Madrid collected another hit in the third and she scored on a double by Hoisington. In the bottom of the third, Modrego rounded the bases for the third time with Anguiano and Boley on base.
UXUA MODREGO'S THIRD HOME RUN HIGHLIGHT
Jasso kept the pressure on the Grizzlies once again by hitting a double and moved to third on a base hit by Schaefer.
Kuea Angilau (Salt Lake City, Utah.) pinch hit for Terry and drove in Jasso on a fielder's choice. Terry returned in the game to run for Angilau and scored on a fly ball by Williams that was dropped by the Grizzlies.
After a walk from LeBlanc, the Lions had runners at first and second with two outs, but Boley kept the inning alive with a single that scored Williams.
Chloe Reneau (Garrison) pinch hit for Anguiano and delivered an RBI-single that scored LeBlanc.
Boley and Reneau scored on Modrego's fourth home run of the day.
UXUA MODREGO'S FOURTH HOME RUN HIGHLIGHT
The Lions had runners at second and third with two outs, but a ground out ended the inning. For the first time all game, the Lions went down in order in the fourth.
Chanlee Oakes (Emory – Rains) earned the start in the circle and pitched four innings, giving up two earned runs on six hits. She had two strikeouts and is 2-1 on the season.
Allison Gonzalez (South Padre Island – Port Isabel) pitched a perfect fifth inning to close it out.
Outside of Modrego's 4 for 4 performance with 9 RBIs, Anguiano went 2 for 2 and collected three RBI's, Boley also went 2 for 2 and she had two RBIs. Jasso and LeBlanc scored three runs each. Williams, Jasso, and Dugi had a stolen base each.
On the Adams State side, Madrid had two hits and Wall had the two RBIs on the two-run home run. Taylor Sandoval was able to secure just one out and fell to 1-2 on the season. She gave up three earned runs, while allowing four hits and two walks. The Grizzlies used five pitchers in the game, Tayler Duncan was the most effective, pitching a spotless 1.1 innings.
GAME 2: A&M-Commerce 9, Northern State 1 (Five Innings)
LeBlanc picked up right where she left off after Friday's perfect game. She struck out the side in top of the first against the Wolves. The Lions put two on base in the bottom of the first, but neither reached second.
In the top of the second, LeBlanc allowed her first base runner of the weekend with a walk, but picked up another strikeout to end the inning. Boley scored the first Lion run with a solo shot to left.
AVERY BOLEY HOME RUN HIGHLIGHT
LeBlanc picked up two more punch outs in the third and gave herself some run support in the bottom of the inning with a two-out two-run double that scored Dugi and Williams. Dugi led off the inning with a walk and stole second to get in scoring position. Williams was hit by a pitch.
Avarie Eagle broke LeBlanc's no-hitter with an out in the fourth. Prior to Eagle's hit, Alexandria Arndt reached base on a walk and scored on a single by Liv Richardson. With two runners on base, LeBlanc struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
The Lions' first two batters went down in order in the fourth, but
Samantha Dutton (Tulsa, Okla.) single with two outs, and she moved to second on a base hit by Dugi. Schaefer slapped a single down the left field foul line that just stayed fair and brought home Dutton. Terry earned a walk to load the bases, and Williams cleared them with a triple to right center.
The Wolves had runners at second and third with one out in the fifth. LeBlanc collected her 11
th and 12
th strikeout to end the inning. She picked up her second win and tossed a five-inning complete game, allowing an earned run on four hits and two walks.
Boley led off the fifth with a single and was pinch run for Jasso. Modrego collected her 10
th RBI of the day in a base hit to left that scored Jasso. Dutton ended the game with a triple to left center that easily brought home Modrego. She was the lone Lion with two hits in the second game. Jasso and Dugi had a stolen base each.
SAMANTHA DUTTTON WALK-OFF TRIPLE HIGHLIGHT
Elrod Reagan earned the loss for the Wolves, giving up nine earned runs on nine hits, four walks, one hit batter in 4.1 innings.
UP NEXT
The Lions conclude the West Texas A&M Invitational on Sunday at approximately 12:30 p.m. against Fort Lewis.
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