COMMERCE – The Texas Southern Tigers downed the East Texas A&M University softball team 4-2 on Sunday afternoon at the John Cain Family Softball Complex to close out the East Texas A&M Leadoff.
 
The Lions went 3-2 in the season-opening tournament. Texas Southern went 2-3 in the five games in Commerce this weekend. The two teams have now played three times with TSU holding a 2-1 advantage in the series.
 
KateLynn Cooper homered to deep left field on the second pitch of the game to put the Tigers in front. In the fourth, Jade McQueen drove in Destiny Menchaca with an RBI double. Karisma Garcia scored on a sacrifice fly by Penelope Saenz, while McQueen scored on a fielding error by the Lions.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Gracie Alejo (Waco – Connally) drilled a double to left center, then advanced to third on a ground out, and scored on a fielding error by the Tigers.
 
The second run of the game for the Lions came in the seventh. With two outs in the inning, KK Cosek (Helendale, Calif.) tripled to right center and then Isabella Arzola (Chino, Calif.) reached on a fielding error allowing Cosek to score.
 
The Lions left five runners on base, including a runner at second to end the game.
 
Jessica Thompson (Tucson, Ariz.) started the game and allowed just the home run to Cooper in two innings, with Maddie Muller (Frisco – Memorial) throwing the final five innings of the game, allowing two earned runs. Kylie Wilson was the winning pitcher for the Tigers, allowing an earned run in two innings and Miranda Pena got the save, tossing the seventh.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions continue the 11-game season-opening home stand on Thursday to begin the four-day Lion Invitational against SEMO (2 p.m.) and Grambling (6 p.m.). Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/Tickets.