COMMERCE – A three-run rally in the top of the seventh was not enough for the Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team on Wednesday afternoon at Husky Field, with the Houston Christian Huskies picking up the 8-6 win.
 
"We battled till the end once again today," said coach Brittany Miller. "We look forward to some rest this weekend and getting ready for a tough Arkansas team next week."
 
Kaydee Bennett (Caddo Mills) was hit by a pitch and stole second to get in scoring position with no outs in the top of the first. Ashlynn Griffith (Cedar Hill) reached on a fielder's choice as the Huskies tagged out Bennett at third. Griffith stole second and moved to third on a groundout, while Avery Zeigler (Southlake Carroll) drew a walk to put two on with two out.
 
Diamond Sefe (Carson, Calif.) hit a two-run double to center to bring home both Griffith and Zeigler. This was the first time the Lions had a lead since March 5 against Weber State.
 
In the bottom of the first, the Lions retired the leadoff batter. Avery Drake and Haylie Savage hit back-to-back singles with Drake scoring on a sacrifice fly by Jasie Roberts and Savage scoring on a double to right center by Autumn Sydlik to tie the game after one inning.
 
Huskies' Ronni Grofman drew a walk and Maggie Childs hit an infield bunt single with no outs in the second. Both runners moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a two-out two-run double down the left field line by Drake.
 
Ayanna Williams (Round Rock – Cedar Ridge) drew a two-out walk in the fourth and Jodi De Hart (Pittsburg – Lindale) reached as well after being hit by a pitch. Tatum Wright (Frisco – Centennial) came in as a pinch hitter and singled down the left field line to plate Williams and pull to one.
 
The Huskies added three runs in the bottom of the fourth and left the bases loaded. Grofman walked and stole second, after a flyout, Riley Martin drove her in with a single to center. AB Garcia got on base with a bunt single, while Martin scored on a one-run base hit to center by Drake.
 
Roberts drove in Garcia with a single through the right side. The Lions got the final two outs of the inning with the bases loaded.
 
Garcia and Drake hit two straight base hits to put two on with no outs in the bottom of the sixth. Savage drove in Garcia with a single up the middle.
 
The Lions rallied in the seventh with three runs. Bennett reached on a fielding error and advanced to second on the play. America Rubio (El Paso – Montwood) doubled to left center to drive in Bennett, while Zeigler hit a two-run home run to left center to make it a two-run game. The game ended on a flyout at the warning track for A&M-Commerce.
 
Rubio came in as a pinch hitter and went 2 for 3. Drake went 4 for 4 for the Huskies. The top three batters in the HCU went 8 for 12 combined.
 
In the circle, Emma Olsen (Elk Grove, Calif.) took the loss after allowing three earned runs in one inning pitched. Grofman took the complete-game win, she struck out two and allowed six hits and two walks.
 
Bennett's 14-game streak ended on Wednesday. She does continue her reached base streak to 15.
 
A&M-Commerce has lost 14 in a row and is 5-33 overall and 1-14 in Southland play. HCU is 18-20 overall and 7-5 in conference play.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions are off this weekend. They are next in action on Tuesday at No. 11/10 Arkansas with the doubleheader starting at 4 p.m.