WACO – Playing its third consecutive game and fourth this weekend against the a ranked opponent, the Texas A&M University-Commerce fell 3-1 in a tight contest on Sunday morning against No. 21 ranked Maryland at Getterman Stadium to close out the Baylor Invitational.

"We are coming together and fighting with a purpose as one," said coach Brittany Miller. "It has been a huge weekend for us as a team, and we will continue to put ourselves in a good position to learn and grow!"
 
All four runs in the game came in the first inning. The Lions' Ashlynn Griffith (Cedar Hill) drew an eight-pitch walk to lead off the game and stole second. She scored on an RBI double to center by Diamond Sefe (Carson, Calif.).
 
On the Maryland end, Megan Mikami also drew a lead-off walk and stole second. She scored on an RBI single up the middle by Jaeda McFarland, who also stole second. Mackense Greico walked to put two on with no outs and Sydney Lewis followed with a base hit to load the bases.
 
Michaela Jones drew a walk to bring in another run and Madison Runyan was hit by a pitch for the third run of the inning. Julia Sanchez (The Kinkaid School) came in to pitch with the bases loaded and no outs. She retired three of the five batters she faced in the first. Sanchez pitched the rest of the game.
 
The Terps had two on base in the second but were held scoreless for the rest of the game. Totaling only three hits in the remaining five innings. For the Lions, they were held to just three hits and all three came off the bat of Sefe, who went 3 for 3 in the game. The only walk drawn in the game was the leadoff walk by Griffith.
 
Anissa Arredondo (San Antonio – Warren) did not record an out after starting the game and got the loss, allowing three earned runs on two hits. Sanchez allowed three hits, while striking out five in her six innings of relief. McFarland had three of the five hits for Maryland.
 
For the Terps in the circle, Courtney Wyche collected the complete-game win. She struck out 13, while allowing just three hits and one walk.
 
After being outscored 27-0 in 10 innings on Friday, the Lions went full seven innings the rest of the weekend, with all three coming against nationally ranked teams.
 
UP NEXT
The road remains tough for the Lions as they head to Tucson, Arizona, next weekend for the first games outside of Texas this season. The Lions face Nebraska and nationally ranked Arizona on Friday at the Hillenbrand Invitational, hosted by the Wildcats. Both teams played in the NCAA Regionals last season.