CONROE – Emily Otto tossed a one-hit shutout on Monday morning for the No. 22 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team against the No. 25 Central Missouri Jennies to finish a perfect 4-0 weekend for the Lions at the Arkansas Tech Winter Invitational at the Scrap Yard Sports Complex.
 
Otto (Lamar Consolidated) allowed her lone hit in the fourth inning and it was also the only base runner for the Jennies. She struck out nine of the 22 batters she faced. The Lions added two runs in the fifth to secure the win and are 5-1 on the season. The Jennies fall to 0-3 on the season, all three losses coming to Lone Star Conference teams.
 
"Emily pitched another great game," said interim head coach Gay McNutt. "Our defense was solid, which allowed our offense to finally settle in and figure it out as our bats got off to a slow start."
 
"This team is having fun!"
 
The Jennies were held without a hit through the first time around the lineup. Otto had a perfect game through the first 3.1 innings. She had five strikeouts through the first nine batters. Ashlyn Cook hit a double to break up the Lions' perfect game bid. Otto retired the next two batters to strand Cook in the fourth.
 
The Lions were held to one baserunner through the first three innings, but they had the bases loaded in the fourth. With two outs recorded, Avery Boley (Fort Worth – Nolan Catholic) drew a walk, Chloe Reneau (Garrison) singled to center, and Uxua Modrego (Burlada, Spain) had a base hit as well. The Jennies kept the game scoreless with a strikeout to end the inning.
 
Samantha Dutton (Tulsa, Okla.) hit a lead-off single in the top of the fifth. She scored on an RBI triple by Leo Terry (Emory – Rains). Madison Schaefer (Frisco – Independence) hit a grounder to second, the Jennies opted to throw home, but Terry made it to the plate before the throw to make it 2-0.
 
The Lions had two on base with two outs in the fifth, but could not add more runs. They had runners at second and third with one out and loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth, but were not able to get a run across. The Lions left nine runners on base.
 
Outside of the hit by Cook in the fourth, the Jennies did not manage another base runner. In the circle, Sadie Parks got credited with the loss, giving up both runs in 4.1 innings on five hits, two walks, and struck out five. Gentry Wishard pitched 2.2 innings in relief and allowed two walks and a hit.
 
Modrego went 2 for 3 and stole two bases, while Sabrina Anguiano (Riverside, Calif.) drew two walks.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions make just their second ever trip to the eastern time zone, participating in the Captain D's Surf 'N Turf Classic, hosted by No. 5 North Georgia. A&M-Commerce take on the hosts, Nighthawks on Friday at Noon eastern standard time and Davis & Elkins at 4 p.m. eastern standard time.