COMMERCE, Texas (April 28, 2017) - Texas Woman's University scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to break a 1-1 tie in game one to grab a 5-1 victory over Texas A&M-Commerce before falling 7-4 to Lions Friday at John Cain Family Softball Complex.
 
Texas Woman's 5, Texas A&M-Commerce 1
 
Each team remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when the Lions sent a home run to center field for a 1-0 lead. The Pioneers gathered their offense together in the top of the first beginning with an Alexis Elizondo single to third base. Elizondo made her way to second via a groundout, and advanced to third on the second out. Tara Solomon placed a single to the infield where the Lion catcher scooped up the ball but did not make the tag at home or the throw to first allowing Elizondo in at home and knotting the game at 1-1.
 
Back-to-back errors by the Lions placed TWU runners on first and second at the top of the sixth. Katy Stephens made it to third and Hazel Puempel stole second before a hard shot by Tylia Sylestine through the left side scored Stephens as Puempel moved up to third and Sylestine sprinted to second on the throw. An intentional walk to Tori Bice loaded the bases for pinch hitter Kaitlyn Johnson.
 
Johnson smacked the ball towards the first baseman who threw home hoping for the force out, but Johnson was ruled out at first to count the run by Puempel to give the Pioneers a 3-1 advantage. A big triple by Morgan Harrison brought in pinch runner Hailey Dixon and Sylestine for a 5-1 TWU lead.
 
A&M-Commerce collected a walk in their final opportunity, but a final fly out concluded the contest.
 
Abby Walker (16-7) took the win with three hits, three walks and four strikeouts.
 
Texas A&M-Commerce 7, Texas Woman's 4
 
The Pioneers got on the board early in game two beginning with a Nicole Nordie walk and Stephens being hit by a pitch. Puempel singled down the left field line as Nordie slid home and Stephens advanced to third. An RBI by Bice brought Stephens around for a 2-0 TWU edge.
 
A&M-Commerce's leadoff hitter tallied a double in the bottom of the first, and the next batter homered to left center to tie the game at 2-2. A Lion single and pair of walks filled the bases before a single to third scored a run and put A&M-Commerce up 3-2.
 
Another pair of walks to the Lions in the bottom of the third led to another run. With runners on first and second, a triple to right field scored a run as the Pioneers stopped another score at home to keep the A&M-Commerce lead at 4-2.
 
Puempel singled up the middle in the top of the fifth and advanced to third on a Sylestine double that bounced off the top of the center field fence. A sacrifice bunt by Elizondo scored Sylestine to once again the game, 4-4.
 
The Lions placed two scores on the board prior to any outs in the bottom of the sixth to jump ahead, 6-4. A RBI double to center field added another run for a 7-4 Lion advantage before a strike out by Bice and a fly out ended the inning.
 
Sylestine gave TWU life in the top of the seventh with a double to left center, but the Pioneers succumbed to three strike outs to end their comeback chances.
 
 Bice (6-8) suffered the loss with three runs on six hits, two walks and a strikeout.
 
The Pioneers and Lions conclude the series with a single game Sunday at 3 p.m.