COMMERCE – The No. 9 ranked Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team suffered two setbacks at the hands of No. 12 Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas on Sunday afternoon at the John Cain Family Field by scores of 6-4 and 7-1, respectively.
 
Despite the two losses, the Lions are still 16-4 in Lone Star Conference play, which puts them in a four-way tie for first place, they are 31-9 overall. The Javelinas are 15-5 in conference games and 33-6 overall.

POSTGAME INTERVIEW
 
GAME 1: No. 12 Texas A&M-Kingsville 6, No. 9 A&M-Commerce 4
All four runs for the Lions in game one came via sole home runs, including leading 3-0 through the first four innings. Ayanna Williams (Cedar Ridge – Round Rock) and Uxua Modrego (Burlada, Spain) had home runs in the second inning, while Alyssa LeBlanc (Katy) added a home run in the fourth.
 
AYANNA WILLIAMS HOME RUN HIGHLIGHT

UXUA MODREGO HOME RUN HIGHLIGHT
 
ALYSSA LEBLANC HOME RUN HIGHLIGHT
 
The Javelinas scored five runs in the fifth to take the lead and in the two games, they had 11 runs combined in the fifth innings. Rylee Oborski and Loren Kelly had one-run base hits each, while Jennifer Geisey had a two-run double, and Jory Cervantes drove in one on a groundout. Kaylee Dietrich hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth to take a three-run lead.
 
Madison Schaefer (Frisco – Independence) added the fourth run of the game for the Lions in the sixth, another solo home run. Lions put on two more in the sixth, including the game-tying run being at second, but they could not get another run across.
 
MADISON SCHAEFER HOME RUN HIGHLIGHT
 
LeBlanc got the loss for the Lions, dropping to 11-4 on the season. She allowed five earned runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out five. Destiny Vasquez (Norwalk, Calif.) came in relief of LeBlanc in the fifth and allowed one run in 2.2 innings, while striking out three.
 
Beth Montes started the game for the Javelinas and allowed three runs in three innings pitched. Lizette Del Angel pitched the final four innings, allowing just one run on one hit and improved to 6-1 on the season.
 
GAME 2: No. 12 Texas A&M-Kingsville 7, No. 9 A&M-Commerce 1
The first two runners for the Lions got on base in game two via two hits and Schaefer moved them over with a bunt. After a walk drawn by LeBlanc, Williams hit a sacrifice fly to allow MacKenzie Dugi (St. Hedwig – East Central) to score. A ground out kept the Lions from adding more runs.
 
Two runners were on for the Lions with one out in the third, but they could not get another run across.
 
The Javelinas scored six runs on seven hits in the fifth. Cervantes opened up the big inning with a two-run single that just went over the infielders into left field, a two-run home run off the scoreboard by Kayla Gonzalez followed. Aaliyah Ortiz doubled to center that scored another run and Autumn Jones scored a run on a wild pitch.
 
Gonzales added another home run in the seventh, this one sailed into the parking lot in left.
 
Emily Otto (Lamar Consolidated) was charged with five earned runs on six hits in 4.2 innings and falls to 14-2 on the season. Chanlee Oakes (Emory – Rains) threw 1.1 innings in relief and Vasquez allowed one run in the seventh.
 
Saidi Castillo tossed a complete game and improved to 9-2 on the season, she allowed four hits and just one run, that came in the first inning. She struck out seven.
 
UP NEXT
A&M-Commerce heads down I-35 to take on St. Edward's on Friday at 1 & 3 p.m. and at St. Mary's on Sunday at noon and 2 p.m.