COMMERCE – The Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team suffered a 22-4 setback in five innings on Saturday afternoon to the Houston Cougars at the John Cain Family Field.
 
"Credit to Houston, they had our number today," said coach Brittany Miller. "We have two games left till conference play and need to make strides in each game to get ready for the Southland."
 
The Cougars scored five runs in the top of the first, with both Mikalah Nitta and Tariyah Coleman drawing bases-loaded walks, while Shelby Smith added a two-run double, and Mandy Esman hit a sacrifice fly.
 
Diamond Sefe (Carson, Calif.) drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the first, Tehya Pitts (Denton – Guyer) reached on a fielding error, and Darby Hickey (Plano Senior) singled to shortstop, loading the bases with no outs. Shelby Hodge (Katy – Cinco Ranch) came in as a pinch runner for Hickey.
 
After a strikeout, Brooke Hilton (Plano East) singled up the middle, plating Sefe and KK Cosek (Helendale, Calif.) hit an infield single, which scored Scored. Lencia Powell (Birdville) hit an infield grounder on which the Cougars took the out at third, while Hodge scored.
 
Coleman drew a bases-loaded walk in the second and Smith cleared the bases with a three-run double to left center.
 
Sefe hit a home run to left center in the second, it was her second home run of the season. Bree Cantu drove in a run in the third on a one-run single to right center.
 
Houston scored 12 in the fourth. Smith had an RBI double, Esman hit a two-run home run to center, Ja'Naiya Thomas homered to right, her third of the series, Jazmyn Rollin had a one-run double, as did Zaquai Dumas, while Clare Ceynowa had an RBI base hit. Esman recorded an RBI groundout, Smith scored on a throwing error, and Kennedy Thomas hit a two-run single.
 
Smith went 4 for 4 with six RBIs, while Thomas went 3 for 4. Smith started the game in the circle and picked up her seventh win of the season. She gave up two earned runs, while striking out four and allowing six hits.
 
Hilton went 2 for 2 for the Lions, while Maddie Muller (Frisco – Memorial) took the loss in the circle. The Lions used four pitchers in the game, with each allowing at least four earned runs.
 
The 22 runs allowed by A&M-Commerce are the most at home in program history, second-most in any game in program history. The Lions have lost their seventh in a row and fall to 5-15 on the season, while Houston is 14-5 on the season.
 
UP NEXT
The series finale between the Lions and the Cougars is set for noon on Sunday. All kids in attendance can run the bases post game. Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/Tickets.