COMMERCE – The Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team returned home on Friday evening, but fell in both games to the visiting Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders by scores of 9-0 in five innings, and 4-1, respectively at the John Cain Family Softball Complex.
 
"We lacked the big inning offensively today and had some miscues in the field that extended innings defensively, giving A&M-Corpus Christi extra outs," said coach Brittany Miller. "We look forward to the series finale tomorrow."
 
Game 1: A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI 9, A&M-COMMERCE 0 (Five Innings)
Taniece Tyson led off the second with a solo home run to left field for the first run of the game. She also had the second RBI of the game when she drew a bases loaded walk in the third. Alina Jasso had an RBI ground out in the third as well to make it 3-0 after three. Both runs in the third were unearned.
 
In the fourth, two hits and a walk loaded the bases with one out and Quinn De Avila cleared them with a grand slam to left. The Islanders loaded the bases again with two walks and a base hit. Paolina Baez drew a bases loaded walk and Sydney Hoyt brought home another run on a grounder to give A&M-Corpus Christi a 9-0 lead after four.
 
Despite three hits and a walk in the game, the Lions left just one runner on base as they had three outs on the bases. Kaydee Bennett (Caddo Mills), America Rubio (El Paso – Montwood), and Kasey Kuyrkendall (Royse City) had a hit each. KK Cosek (Helendale, Calif.) drew a walk.
 
For the Islanders, Hoyt, Gabriella Torres, Tyson, and De Avila recorded two hits each. Primrose Aholelei tossed the complete game in the circle and moved to 12-9 on the season. She allowed three hits and a walk, while striking out five in five innings.
 
In the circle for the Lions, Julia Sanchez (The Kinkaid School) was charged with the loss, allowing three earned runs in two innings.
 
Game 2: A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI 4, A&M-COMMERCE 1
Joliana J. Garcia led off the game for A&M-Corpus Christi and she reached a fielding error in the top of the first. After a fly out, Hoyt homered to left center, bringing home Garcia.
 
Both teams went scoreless until the Islanders added a run in the top of the fourth. After two straight pop outs to start the inning, De Avila drew a walk and came around to score on a double down the right field line by Jasso. The Lions had a throwing error which allowed De Avila to score.
 
Rhea-Ann Avalos came in as a pinch hitter with two outs in the top of the sixth. On a 0-2 count, the Lions dropped a pop up in foul territory and on the next pitch, she homered to left.
 
A&M-Commerce's best inning of the day offensively came in the bottom of the sixth. Jodi De Hart (Pittsburg – Lindale) led off the inning with a base hit to right and was pinch run for Cosek. After a fly out, Bennett hit an infield bunt single. Tatum Wright (Frisco – Centennial) came in as a pinch runner and loaded the bases with an infield single.
 
Elizabeth Guerrero (International School of Americas) brought in the only run of the day with a sacrifice fly to right and Cosek scored. Rubio drew a walk to continue the inning, but the Lions left the bases loaded. In the inning, A&M-Commerce scored one run on three hits, leaving three on base.
 
Jasso went 2 for 3 in game two. Siarah Galvan improved to 3-2 on the season with the complete game win. She allowed five hits and recorded four punch outs. She surrendered two walks.
 
A&M-Commerce had five hits in the second game with a hit each coming from Bennett, Wright, Guerrero, Avery Zeigler (Southlake Carroll), and De Hart. Anissa Arredondo pitched the complete game in the circle and was charged with just one earned run. She struck out four, while allowing five hits and two walks as well.
 
The Lions have lost 10 in a row and drop to 5-29 on the season and 1-10 in Southland Conference play. The 10-game losing streak is the longest in program history. The Islanders are 17-15 overall and 5-6 in conference play.
 
UP NEXT
The two teams meet again on Saturday at noon to conclude the series. After the game, the Lions are hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on the soccer field.