COMMERCE – A seven-run fourth inning was the separator between the East Texas A&M University softball team and the Lamar Cardinals on Friday evening as the Cardinals took a 13-8 win at the John Cain Family Softball Complex.
 
Friday was the first game of the three-game series between the two teams this weekend. The second game of the series, which was originally scheduled for Friday night, has been postponed to Saturday due to a power outage in the city of Commerce affecting the field lights.
 
In the top of the first, Cala Wilson plated a two-run home run to put the Cardinals up early. The Lions responded with three runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead for the first time.
 
KK Cosek (Helendale, Calif.) singled up the middle to lead off the inning and then advanced a base on a fielding error. After a groundout advanced Cosek to third, Tatum Wright (Frisco – Centennial) singled up the middle to plate Cosek and collected an RBI.
 
Aaliyah Wilcox (Covington, Ga.) reached on a fielding error and Charli Anger (Lubbock – Cooper) hammered a two-run double to right center as both Wright and Wilcox came around to score.
 
The Cardinals left two on base in both the second and third innings. In the bottom of the second, Emmie Miehe (Cameron Park, Calif.) singled to center with an out in the inning. After a walk drawn by Cosek, Isabella Arzola (Chino, Calif.) reached on a fielder's choice as Cosek was at second.
 
Miehe advanced to third on a wild pitch and came around to score on a muffed throw as Arzola advanced to third on the play. Wright drew a four-pitch walk and then Arzola came home to score on an RBI single to center by Wilcox.
 
In the fourth for the Cardinals, Sicily Windham hit a one-run double, Roxy Thompson hit a single through the left side to plate a run, Ariel Flores was by a pitch with the bases loaded, Wilson tripled down the right field line to plate three runs, and Mackenzie Wright hit a sacrifice fly to score Wilson.
 
Thompson singled to lead off the top of the fifth and later came around to score as the Lions caught Flores stealing second on a double-steal attempt. Wilcox and Emma Rodrigues (Little Elm – John Paul II) reached via walks in the bottom of the inning and came around to score on a pinch-hit two-run double to left center by Layni Kimura (Westminster, Calif.).
 
Cosek singled up the middle in the bottom of the sixth and then advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a groundout by Arzola. She scored on an RBI groundout by Wright.
 
Flores hit a three-run home run to extend Lamar's lead in the top of the seventh. The Lions left eight runners on base in the game.
 
Both Cosek and Wilcox had two hits each in the game for the Lions, who used four pitchers in the game. Avery Rohlman (Littleton, Calif.) was charged with two earned runs without an out recorded and got the loss. Madison Kloepper (Llano) started the game and allowed two earned runs in one inning of work.
 
Lamar also used four pitchers in the game. Madison Guidry started the game but recorded just one out and surrendered one earned run. Mallory Pitre got the win, tossing 3.1 innings and allowing three earned runs. Kaylee Cuevas got the save, tossing two shutout innings to close it out.
 
The Lions fall to 6-25 overall and 1-6 in Southland Conference play, while the Cardinals are 15-15 overall and 3-4 against conference opponents.
 
UP NEXT
Saturday's doubleheader is slated to start at noon. Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/tickets.