Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

COMMERCE, Texas – The start of the 2015 season was not kind to the St. Edward's Softball team as the Hilltoppers dropped both ends of a doubleheader to Texas A&M-Commerce, 3-0 and 9-4 Sunday afternoon at John Cain Family Field.
 
In the first game, St. Edward's (0-2) threatened first. In the third inning, CAITIE CARNEY led off the inning with a double to the left field gap. MARISA BOGART reached on a hit-by-pitch. After a sacrifice bunt advanced both runners a base, BREAH WHITTEN was called out on interference as she made contact on her slow roller. A fly out would kill the rally.
 
In the fourth and fifth innings, Hilltopper starting pitcher SARAH DEBROW would allow a runner to reach third base but would keep them stranded as she got the all-important third out both times.
 
In the sixth inning, St. Edward's had the biggest threat of the game. Whitten and ALEX MAYFIELD started the inning with back-to-back singles. Both players would advance on a stolen base. Freshman shortstop MORGAN DUFOUR struck out looking. After FAITH ROBERTS reached on an intentional walk, Whitten was forced out at home on a sacrifice bunt. KP PERCH was retired as the Lion first baseman made a brilliant catch falling into the dugout to retire the side.
 
TAMU-Commerce (2-0) got two runners on to start the sixth inning. Catcher December Rivers got the Lions on the board with a three-run home run to right-center field.
 
In the top of the seventh inning, the Hilltoppers tried to mount a rally with Bogart drawing a one-out walk. Whitten kept things going with a two-out single for her second hit of the game. ALEX MAYFIELD grounded out to the pitcher to end the game.
 
Debrow (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing three runs on five hits, while walking two and striking out four in 6.0 innings of work.
 
In game two St. Edward's got out to an early start by pushing across a run in the first inning. Roberts drove in Whitten who led off the inning with a single.
 
TAMU-Commerce retained the lead in the bottom of the first inning as they scored two unearned runs.
 
CYDNEY ERVIN led off the second inning with a single to the pitcher. She stole second and advanced to third on an error. A groundout by Bogart drove in Ervin to knot the score, 2-2.
 
The Lions took the lead again with two more unearned runs in the bottom of the third inning. The Hilltoppers got a run back in the fourth inning when SAMANTHA GILMORE drove in Ervin with two outs to reduce the lead, 4-3.
 
TAMU-Commerce would blow the game open in the fourth inning when the Lions put three runs on the scoreboard. They would also add two more in the sixth inning.
 
In the seventh, Dufour would drive in Whitten for the final margin of 9-4.
 
KATELYN KLUG (0-1) took the loss, allowing nine runs (three earned) off of 11 hits, while walking three and striking out three in 6.0 innings of work.
 
Whitten led the Hilltoppers at the plate, going 4-for-8 at the plate, scoring two runs.
 
"I liked the enthusiasm our team showed for an opening series," head coach Lindsay Gardner said. "We did a god job of moving runners. We just need to sharpen up and do the little things, but it's early in the season. We will get better and figure things out."
 
The Hilltoppers will be back in action Friday when they travel to take part in the George McCorkle Challenge in San Angelo. They will open up Friday at 10:30 a.m. against Heartland Conference foe Texas A&M-International. They also play Colorado Mines Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday starting at 10:30 a.m. They end the tournament against tournament-host Angelo State at 3:15 p.m. All games will have live stats and video courtesy of the Angelo State Athletic Website.