DENTON, Texas (April 28, 2018) - The 2018 season for Texas Woman's University softball came to a close with a pair of losses to 13^th-ranked Texas A&M-Commerce Saturday at Pioneer Field, as TWU needed to secure one win versus the Lions to earn the final spot in the Lone Star Conference tournament.
 
The Pioneers (25-20, 13-14 LSC) entered the contest tied with Texas A&M-Kingsville for the sixth and final berth into the LSC Tournament being held next weekend. TWU totaled one less league loss than TAMUK, but the Javelinas conference percentage (.500) was slightly higher than that of the Pioneers (.481).
 
No. 13 Texas A&M-Commerce 13, Texas Woman's 0
 
Game one remained scoreless until the fourth when two Lions (38-8, 23-7) notched two-run homers for a 4-0 lead. The Pioneers made it into scoring position for the first time as Lindy Kennedy singled to center field and made it to second on a Abby Walker single to right field.
 
Another two-run shot by A&M-Commerce increased the margin to 6-0 in the top of the fifth. In the sixth, Tylia Sylestine singled down the right field line before making it to second as Jordan Kisselburg reached by way of a Lion fielding error. Walker singled up the middle to fill the bases, but a fly out ended the inning.
 
The Lions piled on the runs in the seventh beginning with another home run for a trio of scores. A hit batter resulted in a run, and an RBI single added another. A walk with the bases loaded and a single to left field comprised of the last two runs for the 13-0 A&M-Commerce advantage.
 
Cheyenne Mahy (12-8) suffered the loss with four earned runs on two strikeouts and three walks.
 
No. 13 Texas A&M-Commerce 6, Texas Woman's 4
 
The Lions again scored first with two runs in the top of the third. The Pioneers responded in the lower half of the inning on a Kisselburg single to center field that brought Melanie Stephens home.
 
Stephens led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk and advanced to second on a Puempel single to left field. A sacrifice bunt from Kennedy pushed both runners up a base. Walker smoked the ball off of the Lion shortstop as Stephens and Puempel made it around to give TWU a 3-2 edge.
 
A&M-Commerce quickly filled the bases in the sixth, and three consecutive singles scored a trio of runs. A sacrifice fly to right field tacked on another to put the Lions up 6-3. A double to center field by Puempel scored Stephens to cut the deficit to 6-4.
 
The Pioneers kept the deficit at two after the top of the seventh but were unable to add any runs as three straight outs were tallied.
 
Walker (11-10) took the loss with five walks and a strikeout.
 
Head Coach Genny Stidham said, "Abby and Melanie will be missed. They are great young women, and it has been my pleasure coaching them."