COMMERCE – The Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team closed out the season with an 8-7 loss in eight innings on Friday evening to the Houston Christian Huskies on Senior Day.
 
The Lions end the season with a record of 9-45 overall and 2-22 in Southland Conference play, finishing ninth. The Huskies, with an overall record of 22-25 and a conference record of 9-15, hold the seventh and final spot into the conference tournament.
 
Both Lion losses in the series were decided in extra innings. The Lions ended the season 0-4 in extra-inning games.
 
SENIOR DAY
Prior to the game, the Lions honored seniors Anissa Arredondo (San Antonio – Warren), Ashley Diaz (Chino, Calif.), and Lencia Powell (Birdville).

After a scoreless first, the Lions plated five in the bottom of the second to take a 5-0 lead. Darby Hickey (Plano Senior) drew a walk, followed by a double to right center by Emmie Miehe (Cameron Park, Calif.), as Hickey advanced to third.
 
Powell tripled to right, clearing the bases, with one out in the inning. Isabella Arzola (Chino, Calif.) drew a walk and then stole second, as Powell scored on a throwing error on that play. Ashlynn Griffith (Cedar Hill) reached on a throwing error, allowing Arzola to score.
 
Tehya Pitts (Denton – Guyer) drove in Griffith with a double to center. The Lions stranded Pitts at third in the inning.
 
The Huskies answered right away with four runs in the top of the third. Juls Garcia led off the inning with a base hit to left and Haylie Savage drilled a two-run home run to right center.
 
After a fly out, Kaycie Hagler drew a walk and Ronni Grofman singled to left. Both runners advanced a base on a foul out by Jackie Jessup and scored on a base hit up the middle by Maddy Bailey. The Lions forced a groundout to end the inning.
 
Garcia singled to third and Savage hit an infield single to the pitcher to put two on with an out in the fourth. Jacie Roberts singled up the middle, plating Garcia, while Savage was out at third on the play and Roberts advanced to second on the throw.
 
Savage was initially called safe on obstruction, but after a Lion challenge, the play was overturned. Grofman put the Huskies ahead with a single through the right side, as Roberts scored.
 
Brooke Hilton (Plano East) came in as a pinch hitter in the fifth and doubled to right center. Diaz followed with a base hit as Hilton advanced to third. Hickey drove in Hilton on a groundout, while Diaz advanced to second and scored on a single up the middle by Powell.
 
With an out in the top of the seventh, Jessup doubled to right center. Bailey hit a single up the middle as Jessup advanced to third. Bailey Herrera grounded out to the pitcher with an out in the inning as Jessup scored to tie the game. Bailey also tried to score on the play and was initially called safe, but the call was overturned to out after a Lion challenge.
 
The Huskies pulled ahead once again in the eighth for the second straight game. Martin doubled to left center and after a Lion pitching change, she moved to third on a groundout. Savage hit an infield single, plating Martin.
 
Powell got on base with a base to lead off the bottom of the eighth, but she was stranded to end the game and the season for the Lions. She was 3 for 3 in the game with three RBIs, while Pitts went 2 for 5.
 
For the Huskies, Savage went 3 for 5, both Garcia and Grofman went 2 for 4, and Bailey went 2 for 3. HCU used three pitchers in the game, with Lyndie Swanson taking the win after pitching two shutout innings to close the game.
 
Arrendondo tossed seven innings, allowing seven earned runs in her final collegiate start as a Lion. She was responsible for the go-ahead run in the seventh, thus took the loss. Julia Sanchez (The Kinkaid School) collected the final three outs of the game.