NATCHITOCHES, La. – A 2-1 win in the first game on Friday afternoon over Northwestern State gave the Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team its first true road win in the Division I era, while the Lady Demons leveled the series with a 6-0 win in the nightcap at Lady Demon Diamond.
Friday's win was the first in Southland Conference play for the Lions, who are now 8-42 on the season and 1-19 in conference play, while the Lady Demons are 15-27 overall and 3-14 in conference play. Both teams are still mathematically alive for a conference tournament berth.
The Lions are now 3-2 all-time against the Demons.
Game 1: A&M-COMMERCE 2, NORTHWESTERN STATE 1
The Lions scored first in the game with
Charli Anger (Lubbock – Cooper) driving a solo home run to left, her fourth of the season.
CHARLI ANGER HOME RUN HIGHLIGHT
The Lady Demons stranded a runner in the first and tied the game in the second, while also leaving two on base. Laney Roos was hit by a pitch, while Kennedy Reynolds came in as a pinch hitter and drew a four-pitch walk.
Cameron Curtis advanced both runners on a sacrifice bunt, and after a strikeout, Sophia Livers drove in Roos with a bunt single and tied the game.
In the top of the fifth,
Ashley Diaz (Chino, Calif.) led off the inning with a walk, followed by a pinch-hit walk from
Darby Hickey (Plano Senior).
Kasey Kuyrkendall (Royse City) hit a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners, and Diaz came around to score on an RBI groundout by
Tehya Pitts (Denton – Guyer).
TEHYA PITTS RBI GROUND OUT HIGHLIGHT
The Lady Demons threatened to tie the game in the seventh and even had a chance to take the lead. Livers doubled down the left field line and advanced to third on a throwing error to leadoff the inning. Mia Liscano tried to drive in Livers on a bunt, but the Lions got the out at the plate, while Liscano reached first.
OUT AT HOME HIGHLIGHT
Taylor Williams singled to the pitcher and both runners advanced a base on a groundout. With runners at second and third and two outs,
Julia Sanchez (The Kinkaid School) forced a groundout to third for the Lions' first road win in the Division I era and the first conference win of the season.
For the Lions, Anger,
Diamond Sefe (Carson, Calif.),
Tatum Wright (Frisco – Centennial), and Kuyrkendall had a base hit each. Livers went 3 for 3 in the game for the Lady Demons.
Sanchez picked up her fifth win of the season in the circle, allowing seven hits, one earned run, one walk, while punching out five. For the Lady Demons, Kenzie Seely took the loss, giving up two earned runs on four hits, four walks, and she struck out seven.
Game 2: NORTHWESTERN STATE 4, A&M-COMMERCE 0
Williams singled up the middle in the bottom of the first, followed by an infield base hit by Bailie Ragsdale. Both runners stole a base and following a strikeout, Roos reached on a Lion fielding error as Williams scored.
Roos stole second. Reynolds reached on a fielder's choice, while advancing to second on a fielding error as Ragsdale scored. Liscano drove in Roos on an RBI groundout, and Ashlynn Walker hit a bunt single to plate Reynolds.
The Lady Demons scored four runs on three hits, two errors, and left one on base in the first.
Camryn Ford singled up the middle, followed by a bunt base hit with no outs from Livers in the fourth. Williams reached on a fielder's choice as Ford was tagged out at home, but Court singled up the middle to plate Livers.
In the sixth, Livers tripled to left center and scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Williams.
Aly Delafield came in as a pinch hitter and recorded two hits, while Livers also went 2 for 3. The Lions had five hits in the game. Maggie Darr got the win, tossing 6.1 innings of shutout ball, while Ryleigh Denton got the final two outs of the game.
Anissa Arredondo (San Antonio – Warren) got the loss for the Lions, surrendering three earned runs in four innings.
UP NEXT
The rubber match between the Lions and the Lady Demons is set for 10 a.m. on Saturday. The game was originally scheduled for noon, but moved up due to anticipated inclement weather.
-TAMUC-
