AUSTIN – Five runs in the final two innings of game two on Friday helped the No. 13 ranked Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team earn a split at the St. Edward's Hilltoppers, who took game one by a score of 6-4. The Lions took the nightcap at Diane Daniels Field by a score of 9-6.
 
The split moves the Lions' record to 32-10 on the season overall and 17-5 in Lone Star Conference play. Entering the day in a four-way tie for first place, the Lions fall a game back of Oklahoma Christian and UT Tyler in the standings. St. Edward's improves to 9-13 on the season in conference play and 18-18 overall.
 
Madison Schaefer (Frisco – Independence) hit a home run in both games, while driving in four runs. Emily Otto (Lamar Consolidated) got the win in the circle in game two.
 
"Alyssa had one bad inning in game one. We battled back, but it just wasn't enough," said interim head coach Gay McNutt. "Emily threw well enough for us to get a win in game two. We have to become more aggressive at the plate and pitch better in this last stretch of games."
 
GAME 1: St. Edward's 6, No. 13 A&M-Commerce 4
All six runs for the Hilltoppers came in the fourth inning, while all four runs for the Lions came in the sixth.
 
Lauren Hoyt and Megan Morris drove in a run each, while Genisa Marrero-Carter drove in two on two-run single, and Jordan Neely hit a two-run double for St. Edward's in the fourth.
 
The Lions did not have a hit through the first five innings, until a leadoff double from Leo Terry (Emory – Rains) in the sixth. Terry scored on the two-run home run by Schaefer. After a walk, drawn by Alyssa LeBlanc (Katy), the Hilltoppers got the first out of the inning, but coughed up  two straight walks to load the bases with one out.
 
Avery Ziegler (Southlake – Caroll) came in as a pinch hitter and rewarded the Lions with a two-run single that scored LeBlanc and Destiny Whitburn (Dodd City – Ector), who came in as a pinch runner.
 
The Lions still had two runners on with one out, but could not get another run in the inning. Terry led off the seventh with a single to bring the tying run to the plate, but three straight outs ended the game.
 
All four hits for the Lions came in the final two innings and they drew seven walks in the game. Avery Boley (Fort Worth – Nolan Catholic) came up to bat three times and drew a walk each time. LeBlanc tossed the complete game in the circle, falling to 11-5 on the season. She was charged with all six runs in the fourth and allowed five hits, four walks in the game, while striking out eight.
 
McKenna Lemon collected the win for the Hilltoppers, allowing four runs in 5.1 innings with three hits, seven walks, and five strikeouts. Cadie Belle Currie came in for the save, tossing the final 1.2 innings and allowing just one base runner and striking out two.
 
GAME 2: No. 13 A&M-Commerce 9, St. Edward's 6
MacKenzie Dugi (St. Hedwig – East Central) was hit by a pitch in the third inning and moved to third on a double by Schaefer. She came around to score on a single by Terry. Two straight strikeouts kept the score at 1-0, despite the Lions having runners at second and third with one out.
 
Two walks and a single, on which the Hilltoppers were able to get an out at second, allowed the Lions to put two on with one gone in the fourth. Dugi drew a walk on a pitch where the ball was dropped by the St. Edward's catcher and allowed Ziegler to score on the passed ball. Schaefer hit a one-run single to give the Lions a 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the fourth.
 
Alexis Massie hit a two-run home run to left in the bottom of the fourth for the first Hilltopper runs of the game, and they quickly tied the game on an RBI base hit by Kaylee McQuillan. A sacrifice fly from Morris added the fourth run in the inning for the Hilltoppers to take a 4-3 lead.
 
The Lions tied the game at four in the fifth on a bases loaded walk by Samantha Dutton (Tulsa, Okla.) and scored four in the sixth. Schaefer led off the inning with a solo home run, Ayanna Williams hit a two-run home run that also scored Terry, and Alina Jasso (San Benito) drove in one on a bunt single.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Neely and Connelly drove in a run each to make it an 8-6 game. Schaefer stole home in the seventh for the Lions' ninth run of the game.
 
The top three batters in the Lions' batting order went 7 for 11 and drew a walk each. Schaefer went 3 for 4 with two RBIs, Terry went 2 for 3 with a run scored, and Williams scored two and drove in two. Boley drew two more walks in game two.
 
Otto allowed 10 hits, three walks, and five earned runs in 5.1 innings, while striking out four. She improves to 15-3 on the season. Destiny Vasquez (Norwalk, Calif.) came in for the save, pitching the final 1.2 innings and earning her third save of the season.
 
Belle Currie got the loss and gave up four earned runs on seven hits and seven walks. She also struck out seven.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions head south to San Antonio to take on St. Mary's for a doubleheader starting at noon on Sunday.