DENTON, Texas (April 27, 2018) - Texas Woman's University fell 7-3 to No. 13 Texas A&M-Commerce in the first game of their Lone Star Conference series finale Friday night at Pioneer Field.
 
The Lions (36-8, 21-7 LSC) began the game via a walk before Cheyenne Mahy picked up out number one with a strikeout. A steal, single and intentional walk to LSC Preseason Player of the Year Mariah Jameyson then filled the bases. A single up the middle contributed to the first run of the series before a sacrifice fly made it 2-0.
 
In the second, A&M-Commerce placed runners on first and third, but a TWU (25-18, 13-12 LSC) double play ended any further scoring. Tylia Sylestine sent a shot under the scoreboard for her 14^th home run of the season to cut the deficit in half at 2-1.
 
Two single homers in the third put the Lions up, 4-1, and an RBI single up the middle added a third score for a four-run A&M-Commerce lead. MaKayla Cook took a walk to begin the bottom of the frame, and a sacrifice bunt by Avery Williams pushed her to second. Hazel Puempel sent a single to right field to put Cook on third before she made it home on fielder's choice from Tara Solomon to cut the lead to 5-2.
 
Another intentional walk to Jameyson eventually turned into a Lion score after a wild pitch and RBI double to put A&M-Commerce in front, 6-2. With two outs on the board in the bottom of the fifth, Williams was hit by a pitch before advancing to third on a Puempel single to right center. On the next at bat, Williams made it around before Puempel was caught stealing for the third out to bring the Pioneers to within 6-3.
 
An RBI double by A&M-Commerce in the seventh added the last run of the contest for the 7-3 final.
 
Mahy (12-7) suffered the loss on four earned runs with a strikeout and three walks.
 
Head Coach Genny Stidham said, "A few less walks and this game would have been 4-3. We have to come out tomorrow with a little more fight."
 
The Pioneers and Lions continue the series tomorrow with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. at Pioneer Field.