COMMERCE – Looking to rally late for the third game in a row, the East Texas A&M University softball team came up just short on Saturday afternoon at the John Cain Family Softball Complex as the Northwestern State Lady Demons took the series finale with a score of 8-7.
 
The Lady Demons picked up their first Southland Conference win of the season and are now 4-30 overall and 1-11 in SLC action, while the Lions fall to 9-26 overall and 5-7 against conference opponents. The home team has won two of three in each of the three series between the two teams over the last three years.
 
Sophia Livers drew a walk and then advanced to second to lead off the game for the Lady Demons. After a sacrifice bunt by Aly Delafield to advance Livers to third, DJ Lynch plated Livers with a double to right center. Following a flyout, Riley Schwisow hit a two-run home run to left, putting NSU up 3-0 in the top of the first.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, Maddie Cason (Honey Grove) also drew a walk to lead off the inning. After advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Emma Rodrigues (Little Elm – John Paul II), she scored on a double to left center by Tatum Wright (Frisco – Centennial).
 
Lynch singled to left with no outs in the third and Brynn Daniel homered to left, bringing home Lynch as well. After a ground out, Sara Kate Booker singled to right. The Lions had a pitching change and Bailey Ragsdale reached on a fielder's choice as Booker was tagged out at second.
 
Garcia Santana was then hit by a pitch to continue the inning and Cash Gerber drew a walk to load the bases. Livers drew another walk, this time bringing home Ragsdale.
 
Rodrigues and Wright hit a solo home run each, both to left field, in the third to narrow the Lady Demons' lead to 6-3.
 
In the top of the fourth, Lynch doubled to right field line and Daniel singled through the left side as Lynch advanced to third. After a Lion pitching change, Schwisow was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Booker plated Lynch by drawing a walk. The Lions used two strikeouts and a fly out to limit Northwestern State to just one run in the inning.
 
Cason singled to center, and Rodrigues singled to left to put two on with no outs in the fifth for the Lions. After an infield fly out, Wright drilled a three-run home run to left, her third of the weekend to bring the Lions within out 7-6.
 
Daniel led off the top of the sixth with a home run to left, her second of the game and third of the weekend.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Cason was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Following a strikeout, Darby Hickey (Plano Senior) entered the game as a pinch hitter and hit a single up the middle as Cason advanced to third. Wright brought home Cason with a sacrifice fly to right. The Lady Demons used a groundout to end the inning and pick up their first conference win of the season.
 
Lynch and Daniel, who batted 3-4 in the NSU lineup, went 6 for 9 with four RBIs, two home runs, and five runs scored in the game. For the Lions, Wright went 3 for 3 with six RBIs, while Rodrigues had two hits in the game as well.
 
Brooklyn Stohler started the game in the circle for the Lady Demons and lasted just 2.2 innings, allowing three earned runs. Kaymie Chandler allowed three earned runs in 1.2 innings to get the win, while Grace Ann McDonald pitched the final 2.2 innings and got the save.
 
For the Lions, Julia Sanchez (The Kinkaid School) allowed three runs in 0.2 innings and got the loss as East Texas A&M used four pitchers in the game.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions continue their homestand next weekend against Nicholls. Friday's doubleheader is set for noon, while Saturday's series finale, which is also Senior Day, begins at noon. Following Saturday's game, the Lions will also host their annual Easter Egg Hunt. Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/tickets.