LAKE CHARLES, La. – Heading out on the road for the first time in Southland Conference play, the Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team fell 9-0 in five innings at the hands of the defending conference champion, McNeese, on Friday evening at the Cowgirl Diamond.
 
"McNeese has been the Southland champion the last two years, so this weekend is a great measuring stick for our program," said coach Brittany Miller. "Excited to get back out there for two more tomorrow."

The Cowgirls loaded the bases with no outs on three walks in the first. After a strikeout, Rylie Bouvier reached on a fielder's choice to bring in a run. McNeese attempted a double steal with two outs, Bouvier was tagged out at second, while Chloe Gomez scored from third just before Bouvier was tagged out.
 
Two singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with no outs in the third for McNeese. Mariana Torres drilled an opposite field triple down the right field line to clear the bases and she scored on an RBI groundout by Bouvier. McNeese had two on with two outs, but a strikeout ended the frame.
 
In the fourth, the Cowgirls had runners at second and third with one out. Torres drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to left, Bouvier drove in another with an infield single. After a base hit kept the inning going, Jada Munoz came in as a pinch hitter and hit a one-run base hit to center. McNeese left the bases loaded in the fourth.
 
Julia Sanchez (The Kinkaid School) started the game for the Lions, but did not record an out, walking the three batters she faced, before being replaced by Madeline Janssen (Earlham, Iowa), who tossed two innings with a strikeout and was charged with four earned runs.
 
At the plate, Kaydee Bennett (Caddo Mills) and Diamond Sefe (Carson, Calif.) had the two hits for the Lions. Sefe doubled down the left field line in the fourth. Avery Zeigler (Southlake Carroll) drew a walk in the first and Ayanna Williams (Round Rock - Cedar Ridge) drew a walk in the seventh. 
 
For the Cowgirls, Gomez went 2 for 2 with three runs scored. Torres drove in four runs and Bouvier brought in three. Whitney Tate took the win in the circle, allowing two hits and a walk on two strikeouts in four innings.
 
The loss drops the Lions to 5-22 on the season and 1-3 in Southland Conference play, while McNeese improves to 20-10 overall and 4-0 in conference play.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions and the Cowgirls close out the weekend with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m.