COMMERCE – The McNeese Cowgirls took a 11-1 win in five innings on Saturday afternoon at the Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team at the John Cain Family Softball Field.
 
After a scoreless first inning, Bella Perez drilled a home run to left with two outs in the top of the second. Mariana Torres singled through the left side and stole second to lead off the third, followed by Rylee Eyster reaching on a bunt single, as Torres advanced to third.
 
Eyster got in scoring position with a steal. After a pop out, Rylie Bouvier drove in Torres with a base hit to center. Following another pop out, Samantha Mundine drew a walk and Crislyne Moreno hit a grand slam to left.
 
Torres singled to center to start the third and advanced to second on a fielding error. Eyster reached on a throwing error, while Torres came around to score. Following two outs, Kelsey Dibbley hit a ground-rule double to left center, plating Eyster.
 
The only run in the game for the Lions came in the fourth. Brooke Hilton (Plano East) struck out swinging but reached on a wild pitch, while Lencia Powell (Birdville) and Ashley Diaz (Chino, Calif.) drew walks to load the bases with no outs.
 
After a strikeout, Tehya Pitts (Denton – Guyer) singled up the middle, driving in Isabella Arzola (Chino, Calif.), who pinch ran for Hilton. The Cowgirls tagged out a force runner at the plate and a grounder ended the inning.
 
With an out in the fifth, Reese Reyna tripled to center and scored on a single through the left side by Torres. After a fly out, Corrine Poncho homered to left center, plating Torres.
 
The Lions left 10 runners on base in the game. In the series, the Lions left at least one runner on base in all but one inning. Pitts went 3 for 3 for the Lions and had the lone RBI, while Torres went 3 for 3 and scored three runs.
 
Shaelyn Sanders got the win for the Cowgirls, tossing 4.0 innings. She allowed one earned run, six hits, two walks, and struck out seven. Julia Sanchez (The Kinkaid School) was charged with six earned runs in 2.2 innings and got the loss.
 
The Lions fall to 7-39 on the season, and 0-18 in Southland Conference play, while McNeese continues to lead the conference with a 14-1 record and is 29-15 overall.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions host North Texas for a doubleheader at 5 p.m. on Tuesday and head to Northwestern State next Friday-Saturday. Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/Tickets.