SAN ANGELO, Texas – A six-run, third inning rally by the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions proved to be too much for the Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team, as they were eliminated from the Lone Star Conference Tournament by a score of 9-1 at Mayer Field on Friday afternoon in San Angelo, Texas.

TAMUK's season ends with a record of 29-26, their highest win total since 2008. Commerce moves on to play second-seeded West Texas A&M.

The Lions immediately broke on top in the first, loading the bases on two walks and a hit before Bri Sims singled in the game's first run, but when Commerce tried to tally a second run on the play, freshman Loren Kelly (Rockport, Texas) fired a bullet from left field to nail the runner at the plate.

In the third, an intentional walk to Mariah Jameyson and an infield hit by Kayla Kilcrease put two runners on for Jodie Hill. TAMUK starter Breanna Smith (San Antonio, Texas) appeared to have the third out of the frame on a groundout to third, but a ruling by the home plate umpire that the ball hit the batter's foot brought Hill back to the plate. Two pitches later, Hill drilled a three-run homer over the center field fence to make the score 4-0. Commerce added one more run to their total later in the frame following a single, a double and an RBI knock by Ciera Nunez and a two-run double by Baylea Higgs capped a six-run frame.

Junior Victoria Schoonard-Saborio (Elk Grove, Texas) put up the only run for the Javelinas by blasting a solo homer to right-center in the sixth, but unfortunately for Kingsville, that's all they could get against Emily Otto. She went the distance for Commerce, striking out five without walking a batter and giving up six hits.

The Lions ended the game via the run rule in the sixth, when Nunez singled in two runs.

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