COMMERCE – In the final game of the Lion Invitational, the Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team fell 14-5 on a blustery Sunday afternoon to Abilene Christian at John Cain Family Field.
 
The Lions fall to 5-11 on the season, while the Wildcats improve to 5-9. Both teams play a doubleheader on Monday in Commerce.
 
Throughout the day, strong wind gusts were blowing towards the outfield. In the top of the first, Kaydee  Bennett doubled to left center and Olivia Marble followed with an infield single as Bennett moved to third.
 
Marble stole second and both runners scored on a two-run double to center by Sammie Shelander. Catrin Hoffman doubled to center as well with Shelander advancing to third.
 
With still no outs in the first, the Lions made a pitching change. After a walk to load the bases, Destiny Martinez (Denver, Colo.) forced a fly out, a strikeout, and another fly out to escape the inning with the bases loaded.
 
Isabella Arzola (Chino, Calif.) singled to left in the bottom of the first. After a foul out, Diamond Sefe (Carson, Calif.) singled down the left field line as Arzola moved to third. Darby Hickey (Plano) hit a base hit to left and loaded the bases.
 
On a grounder by Ashley Diaz (Chino, Calif.), the Wildcats opted for the force out of Arzola at home, but a throwing error allowed both Arzola and Sefe to score and tie the game, while Hickey moved to third and Diaz went to second on the play.
 
Following a strikeout, Brooke Hilton (Plano West) reached on a fielding error with both Diaz and Hickey coming around to score. A strikeout ended the inning for the Lions.
 
Abilene Christian answered in the second and re-took the lead. Marble hit a two-out single to center, with Shelander following with a base hit to left. Hoffman was hit by a pitch and the bases were loaded with two outs.
 
Emma Rote hit a two-run single to center as both Shelander and Marble scored, with Hoffman going to second. Both Hoffman and Rote came around to score on a two-run double to center by Avery Miloch. After another pitching change, the Lions got out of the inning on a flyout.
 
A&M-Commerce did not have a runner reach base safely again until the bottom of the sixth.
 
The Wildcats added three runs in the fourth. Shelander was hit by a pitch and scored on a two-run home run to right center that bounced off the flagpole by Hoffman. Following a Lion pitching change, Rote singled to center and Miloch hit a single as well with Miloch advancing to third.
 
Rylie Cook hit a sacrifice fly to center, which plated Rote, while Miloch advanced to third. The Lions were able to tag out Miloch at home on a bunt grounder. Despite a double to put two runners on, a fly out ended the inning.
 
Olivia Marble hit a line-drive home run over the left field fence to lead off the fifth and put the Wildcats up 10-4.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Stephanie Tapia (Yuma, Ariz.) came in as a pinch runner and led off the sixth by reaching on a fielding error, advancing to second, and moving to third on a groundout. Tapia scored on an RBI groundout by Elizabeth Guerrero (International School of Americas).
 
Bennett led off the sixth with a home run to right center. Marble reached on a Lion throwing error and advanced to second and scored on a single by Shelander, with another Lion fielding error allowing Marble to score.
 
After a fly out, Elizabeth Schaefer hit a pinch-hit single to center, which moved Shelander to second. A line out put two outs on the board, but Cook drew a walk to load the bases and Skylar Padgett doubled to left, which scored Rote and Shelander.
 
Bennett, Marble, and Shelander batted 1-2-3 in the Wildcat batting lineup. The trio went 8 for 14 in the game with nine runs scored and four RBIs. Rote went 2 for 3 and scored three as well.
 
A&M-Commerce was limited to just three hits, one each from Arzola, Sefe, and Hickey in the first inning. Maddie Muller (Frisco – Memorial) started the game, allowing four runs with no outs recorded, but got a no-decision.
 
Martinez allowed four earned runs in 1.2 innings and charged with the loss. Talia Neilsen got the complete-game win. Though she allowed five runs, none were earned.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions and the Wildcats meet in Commerce for a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. on Monday. Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/Tickets.