SILVER CITY, N.M.– The No. 7 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team put on an offensive display in its two wins over Western New Mexico University on Friday. The Lions won the first game 22-3 and the second game 18-4. The Lions hit 13 homeruns over the course of the two games, including four from Kinsie Hebler and three from Bri Sims.
The wins bring the Lions to 34-5 on the season and 19-4 in the Lone Star Conference. The Mustangs fall to 4-37 and 2-21 in conference play.
The teams will meet again in the final game of the series on Saturday. The game will begin at 10 a.m. MDT (11 a.m. CDT). The game will take place at WNMU Softball Field in Silver City, N.M.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 1)
- The team broke six single-game records in the game. They set records for most runs scored in a game (22), most runs scored in a single inning (12 in 5th), most home runs in a game (8), most home runs in an inning (5 in the 5th), most RBIs (20) and most total bases (45).
- Kinsie Hebler hit two three-run home runs, bringing her season total to 10. She had three runs scored and seven RBIs with four hits in five at-bats.
- Bri Sims also hit two homers, bringing her season total to nine. She went 4-for-4 with three RBIs.
- Mariah Jameyson went 3-of-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Kimber Neal also had a three-run home run.
- Vanessa Muro and Precious Thompson also hit home runs as pinch hitters.
- Emily Otto pitched the complete game and had four strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)
Both teams had an early hit in the first inning but defense prevailed and the game was scoreless after one inning. Otto had a strikeout in the bottom of the first.
The Lions led off with a double in the second inning but could not get a run across. Otto continued to pitch well, getting another strikeout.
The Lions got on the board in the third. Neal reached on an error and Baylea Higgs hit a single to put two runners on. They both scored on a blast from Hebler, giving the Lions a 3-0 lead. Jameyson doubled right after that and she scored on a double from Sims. The Lions led 4-0.
A&M-Commerce scored six more in the fourth inning. Higgs hit in a run. Hebler scored a run on a single. Jameyson then hit a three-run homer. Sims came up next and hit a solo home run. The Lions led 10-0 going into the bottom of the fourth.
The Mustangs scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth. They led off with two singles. After a lineout, the next batter hit the ball over the center field fence to score all three runs. The Lions led 10-3 after four complete.
The Lion offense exploded in the fifth inning. They had nine hits, including five home runs and scored 12 runs. Neal hit a three-run homer. Hebler also had a three-run home run. Sims hit a two-run shot. Pinch hitters Muro and Thompson also hit home runs and the Lions ran away with the score.
Otto finished the game with a swinging strikeout and the Lions won the game 22-3.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 2)
- The Lions had 12 runs in the second inning, tying the most runs in an inning in school history.
- Kinsie Hebler went 4-of-4 with two home runs and six RBIs. She now has 12 home runs on the season.
- Baylea Higgs went 3-of-4 with a triple and five RBIs and two runs scored.
- Bri Sims hit her third home run of the day, blasting a two-run shot in the second inning.
- Kayla Kilcrease hit a home run in the second inning.
- Ciera Nunez went 3-of-3 with an RBI, four runs scored and a stolen base.
- Chloe Horn also had an RBI.
- Lacie Bullard made her first start in two months, pitching three innings. She had a strikeout. Katie Dean pitched the final two innings.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)
Nunez singled and stole second base to lead off. She scored on a single from Hebler. The Lions led 1-0 after a half inning. Bullard pitched well in the first inning as well. She forced two quick outs before striking out the final batter to keep the Mustangs off the board. The Lions led 1-0 after one.
The Lions added to their lead in the second. Hill led off with a home run to give the Lions a 2-0 lead. Nunez hit a single to score a run. Higgs then tripled with the bases loaded to score three runs. She was followed by Hebler, who blasted a shot over the fence in right center. After a double from Mariah Jameyson, Sims hit a home run to center. Kilcrease followed her with a home run of her own. Higgs and Hebler both came up again in the order and had RBI singles. In all, the Lions scored 12 runs on 11 hits in the inning.
Neither team scored a run in the third. The Lions added four runs in the fourth. Higgs hit an RBI single and Hebler had another home run to score two more and the Lions led 17-0. The Mustangs brought a run across in the bottom of the fourth to bring the score to 17-1.
Horn hit in the final run for the Lions in the fifth inning. The Mustangs scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth before the game ended early due to the run rule.