FULLERTON, Calif. – After a narrow 5-3 defeat to mid-major ranked Loyola Marymount Lions on Sunday morning, the East Texas A&M University Softball team fell 16-0 in five innings to the California Golden Bears to close out the Judi Garman Classic at the Anderson Family Field.
 
East Texas A&M is now 5-17 on the season before playing its first Southland Conference games next weekend at home. LMU came into the week receiving votes in all national polls and was ranked No. 10 in the D1Softball Mid-Major rankings. Cal played in the NCAA Tournament a year ago.
 
GAME 1: RV/RV LMU 5, EAST TEXAS A&M 3
East Texas A&M started the scoring in the second inning as KK Cosek (Helendale, Calif.) reached on base with two outs via a single through the left side. Hailey Montemayor (Lubbock – Monterrey) drew a walk and both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch.
 
Aaliyah Wilcox (Covington, Ga.) cleared the bases with single to right, collecting two RBIs, and advanced to second on the throw.
 
With an out in the bottom of the second, Justine Lambert and Analiah Lummus hit back-to-back bunt base hits. Sakora Harvell singled up the middle to plate Lambert. After a walk drawn by Meeya Johnson to load the bases, Avery Francis drove in Lummus with a single to left.
 
East Texas A&M escaped the inning with a 5-2-3 double play.
 
The two teams left one runner on base each in the third and fourth innings combined, while LMU scored three in the fifth on three hits.
 
Francis hit a bunt single, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch as Izzy Jamgotchian drew a walk and was pinch run for by Mya Allen, who stole second. An infield single by Sydney Poole plated Francis and then Poole stole second.
 
A sacrifice fly from Taelor Walker brought home Allen, while Poole scored on an RBI base hit by Lambert.
 
East Texas A&M left the bases loaded in the sixth. Wilcox drew a walk to lead off the seventh and was pinch run for by Kay Olguin (Fontana, Calif.), followed by a base hit to right center by Zoey Hipolito (Ontario, Calif.).
 
Both runners advanced a base on the play and then after a pop out, Isabella Arzola (Chino, Calif.) plated Olguin on a sacrifice fly.
 
Wilcox went 2 for 2 for the Lions, while Madison Kloeeper (Llano) surrendered five earned runs in six innings for the loss. LMU's Jessie Gilbert got the win with three earned runs allowed in seven innings.
 
GAME 2: CAL 16, EAST TEXAS A&M 0 (Five Innings)
As part of a six-run first inning, Kyndal Todd hit a two-run single, Sophia Everett hit a three-run home run, and Natalie Marshall singled through the left side to drive in a run.
 
Everett drove in two more on a double in the second, while Carly Raven hit a two-run double, Anya German hit a one-run double as did Everett in the third.
 
In the fourth, Raven reached on a fielding error as two runs score and German followed with a two-run home run.
 
The Lions did not register a hit in the game as Lanya Gerhard collected a five-inning no-hitter with three strikeouts. Arzola reached on a fielding error in the first, Montemayor drew a walk in the second, while both Olguin and Hipolito drew walks in the fifth.
 
Maddie Muller (Frisco – Memorial) got the loss for the Lions, being charged with four earned runs in 0.1 innings.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions begin Southland play at home next Friday-Saturday against two-time defending SLC Tournament champion Southeastern. Friday's doubleheader is set for a 5 p.m. start. Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/tickets.