CONROE – Early runs propelled the No. 22 ranked Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team on Sunday to sweep the doubleheader at the Scrap Yard Sports Complex. The Lions downed the Colorado School of Mines in the morning by a score of 7-4 and finished the day with a 4-2 win over Harding.
 
The Lion offense scored 10 runs combined in the first three innings of both games and the Lions started two newcomers in the circle, who both collected their first win as Lions. A&M-Commerce improves to 4-1 on the season and has one more game left in Conroe on Monday morning.

"Great first outing by Chanlee Oakes against Colorado School of Mines," said interim head coach Gay McNutt. "Brooke Aaron came up big with a base clearing hit. Destiny Vasquez did an exceptional job against a very good Harding team, keeping them off balance for seven innings."

"Our hitters are working hard to score runs and I'm extremely proud of where our team is at right now."
 
GAME 1: A&M-Commerce 7, Colorado School of Mines 4
The Orediggers started the game with two base hits. Chanlee Oakes (Emory – Rains) made her first career start and retired the next three batters to end the threat.
 
Sabrina Anguiano (Riverside, Calif.) was inserted into the lineup for the first time as a Lion and led off the bottom of the first with a base hit down the left field line. Leo Terry (Emory – Rains) followed with a base hit.
 
The Lions went for a double-steal and both runners came around to score on a throwing error by Mines. The scoring in the inning continued for the Lions. After an out, the Lions loaded the bases via a base hit from Ayanna Williams (Round Rock – Cedar Ridge), Avery Boley (Fort Worth – Nolan Catholic) reached on a catcher's interference, and Uxua Modrego (Burlada, Spain) drew a walk.
 
Brooke Aaron (Bonham) made her first career start as well, playing third base, and she cleared the bases with a double down the left field line. The Lions scored five runs in the first inning on four hits and two errors, with all nine hitters coming to bat.  
 
Mines went down in order in the second inning. The Lions poured on in their half of the inning. Anguiano started the inning with a walk and Terry collected her second hit of the game in as many innings.
 
The two runners moved to second and third on a ground out by Williams and both touched home plate on a single by Boley. The Lions totaled two runs and two hits in inning No. 2.
 
In the top of the third, the Orediggers had a runner reach third base, but Oakes got out of the inning with two ground outs.
 
The Orediggers held the Lions without a run after the third inning. The Lions had just two baserunners for the final four innings, one coming with a walk and other because of a fielding error.
 
Down 7-0 going into the fourth, Mines put its first run on the board in the fourth. Sidney Wilson reached base safely with a base hit. Sara Larson and Hannah Roberts followed with singles, Wilson came around to score on the hit by Roberts and Larson moved to third.
 
The Lions tagged Larson at home plate on a fielder's choice and ended the inning with a strikeout.
 
The Orediggers added two more runs in the sixth with seven hitters coming to bat. Sam Wade singled to center field and was pinch ran for by Emilee Sloan, who scored on an RBI double by Wilson, who advanced to third on the play due to a throwing error.
 
Wilson came around to score on a fielder's choice by Larson. Oakes retired three of the next four batters to keep it at 7-3. Trystin Oshiro-Sano scored the Orediggers' fourth run. She reached base on a double and was plated by a RBI double from Wilson in the top of the seventh.  
 
Oakes tossed the complete game, giving up three earned runs on nine hits, two wild pitches, one hit batter, and no walks. She fanned five on her way to picking up her first career win. Her counterpart on the circle, Taylor Wayne got the loss. She pitched two innings and surrendered six earned runs on seven hits. Cassidy Chvatal came in relief and pitched four no-hit innings, she had three strikeouts.
 
Terry and Anguiano had multi-hit games, while Aaron had three RBIs and Boley had two. For Mines, Wilson had three hits and drove in two of the four runs. Anguiano, Terry, and Williams stole a base as well.  
 
GAME 2: A&M-Commerce 4, Harding 2
Destiny Vasquez (Norwalk, Calif.) got the start in the circle for the Lions, and she surrendered a lead-off walk to the Lady Bisons, who had a runner at third following a sac bunt and a dropped third strike. The Lions escaped the inning with no runs following a ground out.
 
The Lions pounced early once again. Terry reached on a fielding error and advanced to second on the play. She moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly by Madison Schaefer (Frisco – Independence).
 
Samantha Dutton (Tulsa, Okla.) hit a bunt single to third to lead off the third inning. Terry reached on base with a single and moved Dutton to third. Williams plated both with a single to left and advanced to third on the throw.
 
The Lady Bisons got on the board in the fourth with three hits in the inning. Nicole Shano hit a double and was pinch run for by Macy Smith. Chelsea Blankenship drove in Smith with a single to left.
 
MacKenzie Dugi (St. Hedwig – East Central) hit a triple in the bottom of the fourth, but she was stranded there to end the inning.
 
Harding inched closer to A&M-Commerce with a run in the fifth. Hannah Garrett got on base via a single and scored without a hit. She stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a passed ball.
 
The Lions answered in the bottom half of the inning to go back up by two. Chloe Reneau (Garrison) began the inning with a single and stole second. Williams also reached base via a hit by pitch, and Boley brought home Reneau with a single to left.
 
The two teams combined for one base runner, who reached on a fielding error, in the final 1.5 innings.
 
Vasquez got the win, going the full game and giving up two earned runs, picking up her first win as a Lion. She punched out eight, allowing two hits and a walk. Lily Tanski got the loss, going all six innings. She is 2-1 on the season and allowed three earned runs on six hits and a walk on Sunday. She recorded six strikeouts.
 
Six hitters had a hit each for the Lions, with Williams collecting two of the four RBIs and Boley drew the lone walk. The four hits were spread out evenly for the Lady Bisons as well.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions conclude the weekend in Conroe against No. 25 Central Missouri on Monday morning at 9 a.m.