COMMERCE – Sixteen hits and a pair of home runs helped the Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team win 14-6 in eight innings to snap its losing streak on Tuesday evening at John Cain Family Field over the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Lady Lions.
 
A&M-Commerce improves to 6-29 overall this season, having snapped a 21-game losing streak, which was the longest streak in NCAA Division I at the time. UAPB falls to 11-12 on the season.
 
The first five batters of the game got on base for the Lions in the bottom of the first, which included a three-run home run. Tehya Pitts (Denton – Guyer) singled up the middle, stole second, followed by a base hit to right by Tatum Wright (Frisco – Centennial). It took just one pitch for Charli Anger (Lubbock – Cooper) to clear the bases as she drilled a three-run home run to left center, her second of the season.
 
Isabella Arzola (Chino, Calif.) singled to short, but was tagged out trying to steal second and Lencia Powell (Birdville) drew a walk but was stranded at second to end the inning.
 
The Lady Lions left a runner on base in the first and two in the second.
 
Stephanie Tapia (Yuma, Ariz.) singled through the left side to lead off the bottom of the second and was pinch run for by KK Cosek (Helendale, Calif.). Ashlynn Griffith (Cedar Hill) followed with a base hit up the middle and both runners advanced a base on a groundout by Pitts.
 
Wright drove in both Cosek and Griffith with a two-run single to center and Wright scored from first on an RBI double to left center by Anger. The Lions had a runner at second with one out but could not add to their lead.
 
In the bottom of the third, Emmie Miehe (Cameron Park, Calif.) reached on a fielding error and Diamond Sefe (Carson, Calif.) singled to left center, putting two on with no outs. Both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch and came around to score on a two-run single to center by Tapia.
 
Griffith singled and Wright reached on a fielder's choice, as UAPB tagged out Tapia at third. Anger added two more RBIs to her ledger with a two-run double to right center.
 
UAPB plated six in the fourth. Samaria Jackson singled through the left side and Kaitlyn Neely was hit by a pitch, being pinch run for by Jada Crusterson. Malani Francis loaded the bases by drawing a walk.
 
After an A&M-Commerce pitching change, Kayla Adams hit a pinch-hit two-run double to left center, plating Crusterson and Jackson. Following a strikeout, Tyrah Elerby singled to the pitcher to load the bases once again. A&M-Commerce picked up another strikeout, but the bases cleared on a grand slam to left by Amari Broughton.
 
The Lions made another pitching change and escaped the inning with a strikeout.
 
In the bottom of the inning, Powell singled through the left side, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and Miehe singled to left as well to put runners at the corners with no outs. UAPB challenged Miehe's hit at first base, but the call was upheld.
 
Both runners advanced a base on a groundout and Tapia drove in Powell with a sacrifice fly to center, which barely missed going out of the park. Miehe advanced to third on the fly ball by Tapia and scored on a passed ball.
 
After a 1-2-3 top of the fifth, Pitts doubled to left on the first pitch of the bottom of the fifth. She advanced to third on a groundout and following a strikeout, Ashley Diaz (Chino, Calif.) ended the game with a two-run inside the park walk-off home run down the right field line on the first pitch.
 
Anger went 3 for 4 with six RBIs in the game, while Wright went 2 for 4 with three runs scored and two RBIs. Pitts, Tapia, and Griffith had two hits each in the game as well. The 1-2-3 batters in the Lion lineup went 10 for 14 with eight RBIs and six runs scored.
 
Tapia drove in three as well. The 14 runs scored tie the season-high, while 16 hits are a season high.
 
Maddie Muller (Frisco – Memorial) got the win for the Lions, giving up three earned runs in three innings with four strikeouts. Julia Sanchez (The Kinkaid School) retired the final four batters of the game in order, striking out three.
 
Broughton and Jackson combined to go 4 for 5, totaling four of the team's six hits for UAPB. Heidi Price took the loss in the circle. She allowed six earned runs on eight hits in two innings pitched.

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UP NEXT
The two Lion teams close out the two-game series on Wednesday at 1 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/Tickets.