COMMERCE – Following a 9-2 loss to South Dakota State to begin the day at the John Cain Family Softball Complex, the East Texas A&M University softball team pulled out a 4-3 win over St. Bonaventure in the nightcap to split Saturday evening's doubleheader as part of the East Texas A&M Leadoff.
 
The Lions are now 3-1 to start the year, marking their second 3-1 or better start to the season in the last three years. South Dakota State is also 3-1 after the first two days of the season, while St. Bonaventure is 0-4.
 
GAME 1: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 9, EAST TEXAS A&M 2
The Jackrabbits plated four runs in the top of the first to take the early lead. Emma Christensen hit a bases-clearing three-run double down the left field line, and she came around to score on a single up the middle by Alli Boyle.
 
The first run of the day for the Lions came in the bottom of the inning with Aaliyah Wilcox (Covington, Ga.) leading off the game with a hit by a pitch and then coming around to score on an RBI base hit from Charli Anger (Lubbock – Cooper).
 
Aliyva Bollen added a solo home run for South Dakota State in the fourth and then Boyle drove in Abby Gentry in the fifth, with Christensen scoring on a one-hit single by Bria Riebel.
 
Tatum Wright (Frisco – Centennial) hit her second home run of the young season in the bottom of the sixth, this one to deep center field. In the top of the seventh, both Boyle and Bollen scored on a single to center from Akayla Barnard.
 
Amanda Vacanti tossed the complete game in the circle for the Jackrabbits, collecting seven strikeouts, while allowing two earned runs.
 
For the Lions, Emma Olsen (Elk Grove, Calif.) allowed four earned runs in 0.1 innings while starting the game and got charged with the loss.
 
GAME 2: EAST TEXAS A&M 4, ST. BONAVENTURE 3
In the bottom of the second, Hailey Montemayor (Lubbock – Monterrey) drew a four-pitch walk and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Gracie Alejo (Waco – Connally). A single by KK Cosek (Helendale, Calif.) advanced Montemayor to third, while Cosek went to second on the throw.
 
Kay Olguin (Fontana, Calif.) drove in Montemayor on an infield base hit and then Cosek stole home for the second run of the game.
 
The third run of the game came in the bottom of the fourth for the Lions as Olguin led off the inning with a single and then advanced to second on a ground out, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. She scored on RBI fielder's choice hit from Zoey Hipolito (Ontario, Calif.)
 
The Bonnies tied the game in the sixth as Colsten Beers hit a single up the middle to drive in Grace Miller. Lauren Dundon hit a two-run single through the left side, plating Beers and Kendall Stull. St. Bonaventure left the bases loaded in the inning.
 
The Lions re-took the lead in the bottom of the sixth as Olguin, who reached on a fielder's choice, came around to score on an RBI fielder's choice from Melina Peralez (Monroe, Ind.). East Texas A&M also left the bases loaded in the sixth.
 
Maddie Muller (Frisco – Centennial) started the game for the Lions in the circle and was charged with two earned runs in five innings. Madison Kloepper (Llano) took the win for the Lions as she tossed 1.2 shutout innings, with four strikeouts, including striking out the side in the seventh.  
 
For the Bonnies, Ava Lomelin got the loss having allowed two earned runs in 3.0 innings.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions face Texas Southern on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. to close out the East Texas A&M Leadoff. Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/tickets.