DENTON – Alyssa LeBlanc did it all for the No. 20 ranked Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team on Sunday afternoon at Dianne Baker Field in the Lions' 9-0 and 10-3 wins at the Texas Women's Pioneers. LeBlanc had a home run in both games, while also allowing just one base runner in a shutout win in game one.
The Lions have won five in a row and 20 of their last 22, improving to 26-6 overall and 11-1 in Lone Star Conference play. The Pioneers drop to 8-15 overall and 9-15 in LSC games.
LeBlanc (Katy) was the winning pitcher in game one, also hitting a three-run home run in the first inning. She has won her last nine starts and threw 18.2 shutout innings this week with 32 strikeouts.
MacKenzie Dugi (St. Hedwig – East Central) went 7 for 8 in the two games with four RBIs.
POSTGAME INTERVIEW
GAME 1: No. 20 A&M-Commerce 9, Texas Woman's 0 (Five Innings)
Alina Jasso (San Benito) led off the game with a single through the left side and quickly came around to score. She moved to second on a bunt, stole third, and scored on the throwing error by the Pioneers trying to get her at third.
Madison Schaefer (Frisco – Independence) doubled to left with one out in the first and scored on LeBlanc's fifth home run of the season, which went to left field.
ALYSSA LEBLANC HOME RUN HIGHLIGHT
Having a 3-0 lead before she threw her first pitch of the day, LeBlanc retired the first eight hitters she saw in order. The Pioneers had just one base runner all game and it was a single by Rubi Diaz in the third.
Sabrina Anguiano (Riverside, Calif.) started the fourth with an infield single to start the fourth inning,
Chanlee Oakes (Emory – Rains) followed with another infield base hit. Both runners scored on a double down the left field line by Dugi, who stole third, and scored on an RBI groundout by Jasso.
Oakes pushed the Lion lead over eight runs with a three-run home run in the fifth to left center. LeBlanc reached base with a single,
Avery Boley (Fort Worth – Nolan Catholic) singled to left.
Samantha Dutton (Tulsa, Okla.) and
Destiny Whitburn (Dodd City – Ector) came in as pinch runners and scored on the home run by Oakes.
CHANLEE OAKES HOME RUN HIGHLIGHT
LeBlanc collected one more strikeout in the fifth to close out the game. She retired 15 of the 16 batters she faced, including 10 strikeouts. Dugi went 3 for 3 in the game, while LeBlanc and Oakes had two hits each. The Lions had six stolen bases, with Dugi recording two.
For the Pioneers, Julianne Malis got the loss, allowing five earned runs on seven hits in 3.1 innings.
Game 2: No. 20 A&M-Commerce 10, Texas Woman's 3
The Pioneers struck first in game two with an out in the inning. Nya Brown led off the inning with a base hit, advanced to second on a ground out. She stole third and stole home on the same play as well.
Boley singled to start the second inning, Whitburn came in to pinch run for her and moved to third on two ground outs. She scored on an infield single by
Uxua Modrego (Burlada, Spain). Dugi reached base on a base hit in the fourth, advanced to third on a single by Terry, and scored on a ground out by Schaefer. With Terry still on base, LeBlanc sailed a ball over the left field fence for her second home run of the day.
ALYSSA LEBLANC SECOND HOME RUN HIGHLIGHT
The Lions added five runs on six hits and an error in the fourth. Anguiano and Modrego singled to start the inning, and both scored on a triple by Dugi, who scored on a double by Terry, who was driven in on an RBI single to center by Schaefer. The Lions loaded the bases with two outs and Anguiano drove in Schaefer with a base hit to center.
Down 9-1 in the fourth, the Pioneers scored a run on a throwing error by the Lions. With a runner at first with two outs, Lily Wilson to move over Diaz but the throw to get Wilson at first went into the outfield and allowed Diaz to score an unearned run.
The Pioneers added another run in the fifth inning on an RBI triple by Gracelyn Taylor. Oakes and Boley reached base safely with base hits and an out in the sixth. Anguiano drove in Oakes with a single up the middle, but the Lions could not get another run across, despite having the bases loaded with just one out.
Emily Otto (Lamar Consolidated) was in the circle for the Lions in game two. She is now 12-2 on the season, throwing a complete game and allowing two earned runs on seven hits, three walks, and two hit batters. She recorded nine strikeouts.
Offensively for the Lions in game two, Dugi, Terry, Schaefer, Boley, Anguiano, and Modrego had multi-hit games. Dugi, Schaefer, and LeBlanc drove in three runs each. Schaefer had two stolen bases.
Kelsie Briggs got the loss for the Pioneers. She gave up eight earned runs on 12 hits in 3.1 innings.
UP NEXT
The Lions remain on the road next weekend for a trip to Lubbock Christian on Friday at 2 & 4 p.m. and at Angelo State on Sunday at 1 & 3:30 p.m.
– 30 –
Lion Athletics Mission: Committed to a "Best in Class" experience for all.
