COMMERCE – In 15 innings played on Saturday evening at the John Cain Family Field, the Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team allowed runs in just two innings, but fell 4-1 to South Dakota and Tarleton, 2-0 in eight innings, in the nightcap.
 
A&M-Commerce falls to 5-10 on the season, while South Dakota is 7-7 and Tarleton is 8-6 overall. Saturday was the fourth time that the Lions and the Texans met since moving up to NCAA Division I, but the first time in Commerce.
 
"Despite the two losses today, there are still a lot of positives that we can take into the next three games against Abilene Christian," said coach Brittany Miller.  
 
GAME 1: SOUTH DAKOTA 4, A&M-COMMERCE 1
The Lions stranded a runner in the top of the first and the Coyotes stranded two, at second and third, in the second as well as two more in the third, while the Lions left a runner on base in the second as well.
 
Ashlynn Griffith (Cedar Hill) doubled down the left field line to lead off the third inning and was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Isabella Arzola (Chino, Calif.). KK Cosek (Helendale, Calif.) drew a walk and attempted to steal second, but was caught, while Griffith stole home.
 
In the top of the fifth with one out, Tatum Vilotta doubled to left center, while Delaney White singled to center. Alexis Lusk reached on a fielder's choice and all runners were safe due to a throwing error by the Lions.
 
Gabby Moser followed with a towering three-run double to left, plating Lusk, White, and Violotta. After a strikeout, McKenna Young singled down the right field line as Brylee Hempey, who pinch ran for Moser, came around to score.
 
The Coyotes plated four runs on four hits, one error, while leaving one on base. A&M-Commerce did not have another base runner in the game.
 
The top four batters in the South Dakota order went 1 for 4 each, while Diamond Sefe (Carson, Calif.) went 2 for 3 and Griffith went 1 for 2, combining for the only three hits for the Lions.
 
Kori Wedeking allowed just three hits and a walk in her complete-game win. She struck out five for South Dakota. Maddie Muller (Frisco – Memorial) surrendered two earned runs in 5.0 innings, with four strikeouts. Destiny Martinez (Denver, Colo.) closed out the game with two perfect innings.
 
GAME 2: TARLETON 2, A&M-COMMERCE 0 (Eight Innings)
The Texans had a runner reach third in the first, but could not plate her. In the third, the Texans had runners on the corners, but once again, failed to score.
 
In the fifth, Avery Songer reached on a throwing error and Kayla Wallace doubled to left, advancing Songer to third, but Wallace was tagged out at second. Following a walk and a pitching change, the Lions escaped the inning with no damage on a fly out.
 
Sefe doubled down the left field line to lead off the bottom of the seventh and advanced to third, with one out, on a sacrifice bunt by Darby Hickey (Plano Senior). Tarleton forced a strikeout and then a flyout to send the game into extra innings.
 
It was the first extra innings game for the Lions this season. Kelci Hill hit a one-out single to center in the eighth. Following a foul out, Tristyn Trull launched a two-run home run to left for the first and only runs of the game.
 
Griffith singled with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, but a fly out ended the inning.
 
Wallace went 3 for 4 at the top of the lineup for the Texans. The only other two hits in the game for Tarleton were from Hill and Trull in the eighth. For the Lions, Sefe, Griffith, and Tehya Pitts (Denton – Guyer) had a hit each.
 
Martinez started the game for the Lions and tossed 4.2 shutout innings. Julia Sanchez (The Kinkaid School) got the loss, pitching 3.1 innings, while Hannah Blincoe tossed an eight-inning complete-game shutout, striking out seven.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions play Abilene Christian three times in the next two days, beginning with the finale of the Lion Invitational on Sunday at 2 p.m. All kids in attendance can run the bases following the game. Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/Tickets.