Wichita Falls – The No. 11 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team picked up two wins against conference-rival Midwestern State on Saturday. The Lions won the first game 10-1 in six innings and the second game 9-1 in six innings.
The wins bring the Lions to 17-3 on the season and 7-2 in the Lone Star Conference. The Mustangs fall to 9-10 on the year and 4-8 in conference play.
The Lions return to action on Monday for a non-conference home doubleheader against Missouri Western State. The first game will start at 2 p.m. at the John Cain Family Softball Complex.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 1)
- Ciera Nunez hit an inside the park home run in the fourth inning. She hit the ball into right field against a shift and drove in three runs. She scored two runs on the day with a stolen base.
- Vanessa Muro had two RBI hits, driving in three runs on a single and a double.
- Kimber Neal had a two RBI single in the fifth. She also scored a run.
- Baylea Higgs had two hits and two runs scored. She also had a stolen base.
- Mariah Jameyson had a hit, a run scored and an RBI. Bri Sims also had a hit and an RBI.
- Kayla Kilcrease had a hit and scored a run. Jodie Hill scored two runs and Chloe Horn also scored a run.
- Selena Rima pitched a complete game and had four strikeouts and only one walk. She did not give up an earned run on six hits allowed.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)
Nunez reached on a fielding error to start the game and stole second base. A single from Hebler moved her into scoring position and a sacrifice fly from Jameyson drove in the first run of the game. The Mustangs went three-up and three-down in the bottom of the inning and the Lions held a 1-0 lead.
Rima continued to pitch well in the second inning. She struck out the side to keep the Lions in front. The Lions scored another run in the third inning. Higgs singled and then stole second base. A single from Muro brought her across and the Lions held a 2-0 lead. The Mustangs scored a run in the bottom of the third to bring the score to 2-1.
The Lions broke the game open in the fourth inning. After a walk by both Hill and Neal, the Mustangs put on the shift against Nunez. She hit the ball down the right field line and raced all around the bases, scoring three runs on her inside the park home run. Rima had another strikeout in the bottom of the fourth and the Lions led 5-1.
A&M-Commerce added two more runs in the fifth inning. Neal came to the plate with two runners in scoring position and drove a single up the middle, scoring two more runs. A quick bottom of the inning took the Lions into the sixth with a 7-1 lead.
The Lions continued to pile on in the sixth. Higgs, Hebler and Jameyson all had singles to load the bases. Muro then came up and hit a double down the right field line to score two runs. A groundout from Sims drove in another run and the Lions led 10-1 going into the bottom of the sixth.
Rima stepped out into the circle in the bottom of the inning and made quick work of the Mustangs. She forced a foul out and two pop outs to end the game.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 2)
- Katie Dean pitched a complete game and gave up just one hit in the game. She struck out three batters in the outing.
- Ciera Nunez went 3-of-4 with two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored.
- Baylea Higgs had two hits, two RBIs and one run scored.
- Kinsie Hebler and Vanessa Muro both had a hit and each had two RBIs.
- Mariah Jameyson, Kayla Kilcrease and Kimber Neal all had a hit. Neal scored two runs and Kilcrease scored one.
- Jodie Hill, Chloe Horn and Precious Thompson also scored a run apiece.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)
Nunez led off the game with a double but both pitchers did well in the first two innings of the game. Dean had a strikeout in the first inning and did not give up a hit in the first two innings.
The Lions blew open the game in the third inning, scoring six runs on five hits. The first two batters drew walks and also had steals. Nunez then singled up the middle to score the first run. Higgs then singled to score a second run. Nunez scored on a single from Hebler. Muro then singled and brought two more runs across as the Lions took a 6-0 lead in the third inning. Dean continued to dominate in the circle, striking out another batter and forcing two groundouts.
Neither team did damage in the next two innings. Dean continued to shine in the circle, retiring six more batters without giving up a hit. The Lions kept their 6-0 lead through five innings.
A&M-Commerce added three more runs in the sixth inning. Kilcrease led off with a single and was brought around to score. Neal then singled and Nunez doubled to put two runners in scoring position. Higgs singled up the middle to score Neal. Hebler had a sacrifice fly to bring in Nunez. The Lions led 9-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth.
The Mustangs finally were able to get a hit off of Dean in the bottom of the sixth, breaking up the no-hitter. A double play groundout allowed the Mustangs to get their only run of the game across and the Lions got the final out to end the game in six innings.