COMMERCE – For the first time in the history of John Cain Family Softball Field, a Southeastern Conference team faced the Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team in a regular season game as the Lions fell 8-0 in five innings on Monday afternoon to No. 20/20 ranked Arkansas Razorbacks.
 
Arkansas came into the game being ranked No. 20 in both the US Softball/ESPN.com Poll and the USA Today/NFCA coaches poll. The Razorbacks are 23-6 on the season and the Lions fall to 5-26.
 
Reagan Johnson singled to third and stole second to lead off the game. After another infield single by Nia Carter, with Johnson advancing to third, Bri Ellis drove in Johnson with a sacrifice fly to center. Kennedy Miller followed with a base hit to left.
 
Following a strikeout, Hannah Camenzind singled up the middle, scoring Carter, while Rylin Hedgecock hit a two-run single to single, plating Camenzind and Miller. The Razorbacks had runners at second and third with two outs, but a ground out ended the inning.
 
Johnson began the second inning with another single to short and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Carter. Ellis doubled to right center, while Johnson advanced to third. Johnson scored on a one-run single to short by Miller. Hannah Gammill loaded the bases with a walk and Camenzind drove in Ellis with a single to center.
 
After a Lion pitching change and the bases loaded with one out, a line out and a fly out ended the top of the second inning.
 
In the top of the fourth, Kylie Brockman drew a walk to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a groundout. Hedgecock hit a single through the left side, advancing to second on the third, while Brockman went to third. Both Hedgecock and Brockman came around to score on a two-run double to right center by Cylie Halvorson.
 
The Lions left six runners on base, being shut out for the fourth time in five games.
 
Leading off for the Razorbacks, Johnson went 3 for 3 with two runs scored, while Miller went 2 for 2, and both Camenzind, Hedgecock, and Halvorson went 2 for 3 each in the game. Camenzind got the win in the circle, tossing three innings and striking out four. Both Nikki McGaffin and Kasey Wood had a shutout inning each.
 
A&M-Commerce had four hits in the game, one each from Tehya Pitts (Denton – Guyer), Darby Hickey (Plano Senior), Brooke Hilton (Plano East), and Ashlynn Griffith (Cedar Hill).
 
In the circle for the Lions, Julia Sanchez (The Kinkaid School) got the loss. She allowed six earned runs in 1.1 innings. Emma Olsen (Elk Grove, Calif.) allowed two earned runs in 2.2 innings, while Anissa Arredondo (San Antonio – Warren) pitched a shutout fifth.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions welcome Lamar for a conference series this weekend. Friday's doubleheader begins at 5 p.m. and it is Salute to Service game for the Lions, while Saturday's game at noon is the Cancer Awareness Game and there will be an Easter Egg Hunt following the game.
 
Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/Tickets.