HOUSTON – A valiant nine-inning effort for the Texas A&M University-Commerce softball came up short against the Houston Christian Huskies, who prevailed 2-1 in nine innings in game two on Tuesday, after winning the first game by a score of 17-3 in five innings at Husky Field.
 
Julia Sanchez (The Kinkaid School) pitched 163 pitches in the second game, restricting the Huskies to just one solo home run through the first eight innings.
 
Offensively, the Lions had 11 hits in the game, which were the second most in a game this season, but left nine runners on base. HCU had a pair of hits in the bottom of the ninth to take the win on a throwing error by the Lions.

"Julia threw an outstanding game today, and our defense played well," said coach Brittany Miller. "Offensively we had hits, but now we need to string them together and push across some runs!" 
 
Kaydee Bennett (Caddo Mills) had a hit in both games to extend her hitting streak to 14 games. Her 14-game hitting streak is the longest for the program since 2018 when Baylea Higgs had an 18-game hitting streak and Mariah Jameyson had a hit for 17 straight games. It is also the fifth longest in program history.
 
Game 2: HCU 2, A&M-COMMERCE 1 (Nine Innings)
Both teams were held off the scoreboard through the first four innings in the nightcap. In the top of the fifth, the Lions had the bases loaded with one out. A grounder on which HCU opted for the out at home and strikeout, kept the game scoreless.
 
In the bottom of the fifth with two outs, Maggie Childs hit a home run down the left field line to open the scoring and put HCU up front. The Huskies on three straight walks had the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, but a line out to left field ended the inning.
 
A&M-Commerce stranded a runner at second in the sixth, but tied the game in the seventh. Ayanna Williams (Round Rock – Cedar Ridge) singled through the left side to lead off the inning. Jodi De Hart (Pittsburg – Lindale) hit a groundball that the Huskies chose to tag out Williams at second as De Hart reached on a fielder's choice and was pinch run for by Emma Olsen (Elk Grove, Calif.).
 
America Rubio (El Paso – Montwood) doubled to center, putting runners at second and third with one out. Bennett tied the game and extended her hitting streak to 14 games with a single through the left side that scored Olsen. With runners on the corners and one out, HCU forced an infield pop out and a ground out to end the inning.
 
HCU left a runner on base in the bottom of the seventh and left a runner at third in the eighth. The Lions had a runner reach on a hit in the top of the eight, but the Huskies forced a double play.
 
In the top of the ninth, the Lions had a runner at second with two outs, but failed to get her across. Kaicey Hagler singled to left, leading off the ninth, and moved to second on a bunt by Childs. Ronni Grofman singled to center, and Hagler was held at third, but a throwing error by the Lions allowed her to score the unearned run and walk it off.
 
Williams, Rubio, and Diamond Sefe (Carson, Calif.) had two hits each in the game for the Lions. Rubio went 2 for 2 after coming in as a pinch hitter. A&M-Commerce's 11 hits in the game are second most after 17 against CSUN on March 4. This was the third extra inning game for the Lions this season, they were 2-0 coming into Tuesday.
 
HCU was held to just five hits and had five walks as well, leaving seven on base. Sanchez recorded career-best 12 strikeouts in 8.1 innings, allowing just one earned run. For the Huskies, Lyndie Swanson tossed nine innings and struck out six, while improving to 8-5 on the season.
 
Game 1: HCU 17, A&M-COMMERCE 3 (Five Innings)
The Huskies plated four in the fourth on one-run doubles by Haylie Savage and Jasie Roberts as well as a two-run home run by Hagler. Three more runs were scored by HCU in the second with Roberts, Hagler, and Autumn Sydlik collecting RBIs.
 
Hadlee Tomczak had a two-run home run, Roberts hit a one-run single, Savage scored on a wild pitch, Grofman hit a two-run double, and Childs drove in a run for the Huskies in third. HCU plated seven runs on six hits and one error, leaving one on base.
 
Sefe drew a walk on the top of the fourth and came around to score on an RBI double to center by Elizabeth Guerrero (International School of Americas), who scored on an RBI double to center as well by Williams.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Savage hit a two-run home run and Grofman had a one-run double down the right field line to make it 17-2.
 
Bennett doubled to left center to lead off the seventh and advanced to third on a bunt single by Camile Nunez (Madera, Calif.), who was tagged out at first on the play after initially reaching the base safely. KK Cosek (Helendale, Calif.) brought home Bennett with an RBI groundout. Bennett went 2 for 2 with a walk in the game.
 
AB Garcia went 4 for 4 for Huskies, who also received two hits each from Savage, Roberts, Hagler, Grofman, and Childs.
 
Anissa Arredondo (San Antonio - Warren) got the loss for the Lions, while Katy Janes improves to 6-8 on the season with the complete-game win.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions close out the series against HCU at noon on Wednesday.