COMMERCE – A Big XII conference opponent played at John Cain Family Softball Field for the first time on Friday night as the Houston Cougars beat the Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team, 10-1, in five innings.
 
Houston is 13-5 on the season, while the Lions fall to 5-14, having lost six in a row.
 
"We had a tough start in the top of the first again and we cannot do that against a good team like Houston," said coach Brittany Miller. "Looking forward to getting back out there tomorrow."
 
Lair Beautae homered to left center to leadoff the game. Kennedy Thomas drew a walk and stole second, moving to third on a ground out. Turiya Coleman reached on a Lion fielding error as Thomas scored an unearned run.
 
In the third with one out, Mikalah Nitta singled to shortstop and moved to second on a walk by Bree Cantu. Coleman loaded the bases with a base hit to center and Mandy Esman brought home two with a two-run single to center, while Coleman advanced to third.
 
Jazmyn Rollin grounded out to second, which allowed Esman to score.
 
Tehya Pitts (Denton – Guyer) hit a ball that bounced off third base and it allowed Pitts to reach second on a one-out double in the third. Isabella Arzola (Chino, Calif.) singled to left center, plating Pitts. Arzola reached third with two outs on a steal and a wild pitch, but the Lions could not bring her home.
 
Ja'Naiya Thomas came in as a pinch hitter in the fourth and homered to left center. After a pitching change, Beautae, Thomas, and Nitta walked to load the bases with no outs.
 
A&M-Commerce made another pitching change and another walk, this one drawn by Cantu, allowed Beautae to score. Coleman grounded out to first, bringing home Thomas and Esman grounded out to shortstop and Nitta scored. Houston challenged the play at first, but the call stood after review.
 
Thomas hit her second home run of the game in the fifth, a solo shot to left and is batting 1.000 on the season.
 
For the Cougars, Beautae and Thomas had two hits each, combining for four of the team's seven hits. Tamya Waiters got the win in the circle, allowing an earned run in three innings, while Shelby Smith pitched two shutout innings.
 
Julia Sanchez (The Kinkaid School) got the loss for the Lions, allowing five earned runs in three innings. The top four batters in the Lion order had a hit each in the game as well.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions and the Cougars meet for game two of the series at noon on Saturday, which is also A&M-Commerce's Softball Bingo. Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/Tickets.