COMMERCE – The Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team fell in two games to the Abilene Christian Wildcats on Monday afternoon by scores of 5-1 and 6-2, respectively, at John Cain Family Field.
 
"We were not able to get a quick start against their top three batters in the order in every game and that put us back," said coach Brittany Miller. "We have four games coming up tough competition. We need to work on ourselves and make improvements each day going into conference play."
 
GAME 1: ABILENE CHRISTIAN 5, A&M-COMMERCE 1
Kaydee  Bennett hit a bunt-single to lead off the game and Olivia Marble was hit by a pitch. Both runners stole a base and got into scoring position. Sammie Shelander singled through the right side, bringing home Bennett and Marble advanced to third, while Shelander advanced to second on the throw. 
 
After a foul out and a line out, Marble scored an unearned run on a passed ball. A fly out ended the inning for the Wildcats.
 
Isabella Arzola (Chino, Calif.) singled through the left side in the fourth and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ashlynn Griffith (Cedar Hill). Arzola moved to third on a groundout and scored on a two-out double to right by Darby Hickey (Plano).
 
In the top of the fourth, Avery Miloch hit a home run to center and Rachel Cook homered to center as well in the fourth.
 
Emma Rote was hit by a pitch in the seventh and came around to score on a sacrifice bunt by Skyler Padgett. Marble went 3 for 3 in the game and Bennett went 2 for 3, while Cook also went 2 for 3. Linna Russo improved to 2-4 on the season with the complete-game win. She allowed six hits, while striking out five.
 
Stephanie Tapia (Yuma, Ariz.) went 2 for 3 in the game for the Lions. Julia Sanchez (The Kinkaid School) started the game and got the loss for the Lions, allowing three earned runs in 3.1 innings. Destiny Martinez (Denver, Colo.) allowed one earned run in 3.2 innings.
 
GAME 2: ABILENE CHRISTIAN 6, A&M-COMMERCE 2
Bennett led off the second game with a home run to center. Marble followed with a base hit to center, but was caught stealing. Shelander reached on a Lion throwing error. She advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single through the right side by Miloch.
 
The Lions made a pitching change and got the next two outs to end the inning. Ashley Diaz (Chino, Calif.) drilled a home run to left with an out in the fourth to make it a one-run game. It is Diaz's first home run as a Lion and the team's third home run this season.
 
The Wildcats responded in the third with Bennett doubling to left and scoring on a two-run home run to left center by Miloch. Pagdett and Cook hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth.
 
Griffith singled to third in the seventh and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tehya Pitts (Denton – Guyer). After a strikeout, Diamond Sefe (Carson, Calif.) double down the left field line, which plated Griffith.
 
In the second game, at the top of the order, Bennett went 2 for 4 and Marble went 3 for 4, while Miloch went 2 for 3. For the Lions, Griffith went 2 for 3.
 
Ella Beeman took the win in the circle, allowing two earned runs in seven innings. Maddie Muller (Frisco – Memorial) got the loss for the Lions. She allowed an earned run in 0.1 innings on three hits.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions host Houston for a three-game series in Commerce next weekend. The first game is at 6 p.m. on Friday, followed by a game each on Saturday and Sunday at noon on each day. Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/Tickets.