TAMUC – Sports

 

MEN’S GOLF

Three Lions tied for individual lead; A&M-Commerce has team lead after 36 holes at Hardscrabble Classic.

FORT SMITH, Ark. – The No. 23 Texas A&M University-Commerce men’s golf team holds a seven-stroke lead after 36 holes at the Hardscrabble Invitational. Three Lions are in a logjam atop the individual leaderboard.

The Lions shot 560 (275-285) for an even-par score on the par 70 layouts. Host school Arkansas-Fort Smith shot 567 and is seven strokes behind A&M-Commerce. No other school is within 25 strokes of A&M-Commerce.

The A&M-Commerce trio of Blake Hartford, Lucas McCubbin, and Wilfredo Sanchez are all tied for the individual lead at 138 (-2) after two rounds. Two UAFS golfers also tied at that score.

Hartford was 4-under par in the opening round with an eagle on the par five sixth hole to go with four birdies and two bogeys. He scuffled slightly in the second round, but still notched four birdies in his 2-over par 72 round.

McCubbin was 2-under par in the opening round at 68 with five birdies after carding a double bogey on his opening hole. He shot even par in the second round with two birdies and two bogeys.

Sanchez shot a sparkling 3-under par 67 in the opening round with no bogeys and three birdies. His second round was a 1-over par 71 with five birdies.

Garrett Landers is in 18th place at 148 (76-72, +8) with three birdies scattered through his trip around Hardscrabble. Joe Wolcik is in 27th place at 151 (74-77, +11), also carding three birdies.

The Lions’ regular season will conclude with the final round of the Hardscrabble Invitational on Tuesday.

Rank	Team	Scores		Total	Par
1.	A&M-Commerce	275	285	560	E
2.	Arkansas-Fort Smith	283	284	567	+7
3.	Midwestern State	294	292	586	+26
4.	Rogers State	299	290	589	+29
5.	Cameron	290	305	595	+35
6.	Missouri Southern State	298	301	599	+39
7.	Lubbock Christian	307	298	605	+45
8.	Northwestern Oklahoma State	300	306	606	+46
9.	Central Baptist	305	305	610	+50

A&M-Commerce	275	285	560	E	1st
Blake Hartford	66	72	138	-2	t-1st
Lucas McCubbin	68	70	138	-2	t-1st
Wilfredo Sanchez	67	71	138	-2	t-1st
Garrett Landers	76	72	148	+8	t-18th
Joe Wolcik	74	77	151	+11	t-27th

 

SOFTBALL

No. 6 Lions edged by No. 13 West Texas A&M in the series finale, 5-2.

COMMERCE – The No. 6 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team dropped the final of the Lone Star Conference series with No. 13 West Texas A&M University by a 5-2 count on Monday afternoon.

The Lions are now 32-5 overall and 17-4 in the Lone Star Conference, while the Lady Buffs are 31-6 overall and 14-4 in the LSC.

The Lions head west for their next action, taking on Western New Mexico in a three-game series. Action in Silver City, N.M., starts with a 1 p.m. MDT doubleheader on Friday, with a single game at 10 a.m. MDT Saturday

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
– Mariah Jameyson reached base three times in the game, plating a run when she reached on an error and walking twice.
– Ciera Nunez reached on a run and a walk, and Jodie Hill collected the Lions’ other hit. Kinsie Hebler and Monica Cherry each also drew walks.
– Emily Otto was tagged with a loss in the complete-game effort, falling to 13-3 on the year. She allowed only four hits, walking three and striking out three.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lions scored the game’s opening run in the bottom of the first after Nunez led off with a walk and stole second. Jameyson hit a ball to right field with two outs, and the Lady Buff right fielder dropped the ball, allowing Nunez to score and put the hosts up 1-0.

Otto retired the first seven Lady Buffs in order before issuing two walks. Kourtney Coveney converted those walks into runs with a three-run homer to the right on a full count with two out, giving the visitors a 3-1 lead in the third inning.

A&M-Commerce was stymied on scoring opportunities, stranding two runners in the fourth and leaving the bases loaded in the fifth.

West Texas A&M scored a pair of runs in the top of the fifth on a two-run homer by Ashley Hardin, who dinged the left field foul pole for a 5-1 lead.

The Lions scored a run in the bottom of the inning on Baylea Higgs’ fielder’s choice. Jameyson’s walk loaded the bases with two outs, but a groundout ended the inning with the Lions trailing 5-2.

Otto allowed only one baserunner in the final two innings, but the Lions were unable to convert chances in the late going. A&M-Commerce had two runners in position to score with one out in the sixth, and a groundout, but a fly thwarted the opportunity. The Lions retired in order in the seventh to give the Lady Buffs the win.

 

TRACK AND FIELD

Lions set three school records and earn 17 qualifying marks at David Noble Relays.

SAN ANGELO – The Texas A&M University-Commerce track and field teams had a stellar meet in the weather-delayed David Noble Relays, earning an automatic qualifying mark and 16 provisional qualifying marks, as well as setting three school records.

In the team standings, the women’s team placed second with 121.5 points, while the men placed fifth with 102.5 points.

Malcolm Woods earned a trip to Charlotte in May with his automatic qualifying time of 10.24 seconds in the 100-meter dash, which is the third-fastest time in the nation.

D’Lance Sharp set a school record in the men’s 400 meters at 46.85 seconds, which is the second-fastest time in the nation and a provisional qualifying mark.

Hailey Wanoreck set a school record in the women’s hammer throw at 57.81 meters (189-8), besting her previous record by nearly five meters.

The women’s 4×400 meter relay team of Minna Svaerd, Joy Spann, Ro’Nisha Simpson, Kamryn McKee ran the baton around the track in 3:42.04, setting a school record with the fourth-fastest time in the nation this season.

Other student-athletes in the top five in the nation in the meet were Jasmine Roberts in the women’s triple jump at 12.18 meters (39-11 ½) for the third-longest mark in the country. Rashard Clark in the men’s 200 meters at 20.95 seconds for the third-fastest time in the nation, and Svaerd in the women’s 400-meter hurdles at 1:00.27 for the fifth-fastest time in the country.

The Lions will return to Commerce and host the East Texas Invitational on Saturday, April 14.

AUTOMATIC QUALIFYING MARKS
Men’s 100 meters – Malcolm Woods – 10.24 – 3rd in nation

PROVISIONAL QUALIFYING MARKS
Men’s 400 meters – D’Lance Sharp – 46.85 – 2nd in the nation
Women’s Triple Jump – Jasmine Roberts – 12.18m (39-11 ½) – 3rd in the country
Men’s 200 meters – Rashard Clark – 20.95 – 3rd in the nation
Women’s 4×400 meter relay – Minna Svaerd, Joy Spann, Ro’Nisha Simpson, Kamryn McKee – 3:42.04 – 4th in the country
Women’s 400-meter hurdles – Minna Svaerd – 1:00.27 – 5th in the nation
Women’s Hammer Throw – Hailey Wanoreck – 57.81m (189-8) – 7th in the country
Men’s 100 meters – LT Jessie – 10.41 – 7th in the nation
Women’s High Jump – Markie Abbott and Chelsea Cheek – 1.70m (5-7) – 8th in the country
Women’s 100 meters – Mackenzie Clark – 11.92 – 10th in the nation
Women’s Discus Throw – Anitial’a Robins – 48.69m (159-9) – 10th in the nation
Men’s 4×100 meter relay – Malcolm Woods, Stadrian Taylor, LT Jessie, Brice Ashburn – 41.03 – 11th in the nation
Women’s Pole Vault – Minna Svaerd – 3.72m (12-2.5) – 14th in the nation
Men’s Long Jump – Jordan Wilson – 7.28m (23-10 ¾) – 14th in the nation
Men’s 100 meters – Jude Christine – 10.56 – 15th in the nation
Men’s 200 meters – D’Lance Sharp – 21.30 – 18th in the nation
Women’s Heptathlon – Jessica Clay – 4,495 – 20th in the nation

 

SOFTBALL

Otto’s no-hitter highlights No. 6 Lions’ doubleheader split with No. 13 Lady Buffs.

COMMERCE – The No. 6 Texas A&M University-Commerce softball team and No. 13 West Texas A&M University split Sunday’s Lone Star Conference doubleheader. The Lions took the first game, 6-0, while the Lady Buffs took the second game, 8-2.

The Lions are now 32-4 overall and 17-3 in the Lone Star Conference, while the Lady Buffs are 30-6 overall and 13-4 in the LSC.

The two teams will close the series with a single game at 1 p.m. Monday at the John Cain Family Softball Complex.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 1)
– Freshman Emily Otto pitched the program’s first-ever seven-inning no-hitter to earn the win and move to 13-2 on the season. It was the third no-hitter in Lion Softball history. She struck out three and walked two, allowing only four West Texas A&M baserunners.
– Mariah Jameyson and Kayla Kilcrease each picked up three hits, while Ciera Nunez and Baylea Higgs had two hits apiece.
– Higgs drove in three runs, and Kinsie Hebler, Jameyson, and Bri Sims each had RBIs.
– Lion hitters struck out only once in the contest. Jameyson reached base safely in all four plate appearances.
– The Lions stole five bases, with Nunez, Higgs (2), Jameyson, and Kimber Neal all swiping an extra bag.

HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1)
The Lion offense got plenty of runners on base in the early going but was unable to push any runs across the plate in the opening three innings. A&M-Commerce stranded six runners on base in the first frames.

Kilcrease led off the fourth with an infield single, Cherry laid down a bunt single, and Nunez walked after a sacrifice bunt to load the bases. On a 0-1 count, Higgs laced a double over the left fielder’s head, clearing the bases with a three-run double. With two outs, Jameyson smoked a double over the right fielder’s head to plate Higgs and giving the Lions a 4-0 lead after four innings.

The Lion lead extended to six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning after Nunez and Higgs singled to lead off the frame. Each Lion stole a base to put runners on second and third with none out. Hebler’s hard-hit single to the left plated a run.

After Jameyson walked to load the bases, Sims was hit by a pitch to bring home the next run. A line drive double play ended the inning to push the game to the seventh inning.

Otto induced a weak fly ball and a routine grounder to get within one out of program history. Her fourth pitch to India Holland was a weak grounder back to the circle, and her smooth toss to first for the putout clinched the series opener.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (Game 2)
– Nunez had two hits, including a triple to lead off the bottom of the seventh. Also with hits were Higgs, Hebler, Jameyson, Sims, and Hill.
– Hebler was tagged with the loss in the circle, allowing two runs in an inning of work.
– WT hit three home runs in the contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2)
The Lady Buffs earned the first run of the series in the top of the first inning on a two-run homer by Shayne Starkey with two outs. The high fly barely eluded the glove of Kilcrease in right field and went over the top of the fence for a 2-0 WT lead.

West Texas A&M extended its lead to 3-0 in the third, when Shanna McBroom snuck a solo homer just inside the left-field foul pole.

The Lions came within inches of tying the game in the bottom of the third when the left fielder caught Sim’s long fly with her back against the fence to end the inning.

The Lady Buffs put up three runs in the fourth inning on a two-run double with none out and a two-out RBI single, pushing the guests’ lead to 6-0.

A&M-Commerce got on the board in the fifth after Nunez and Higgs singled to lead off the inning. A single smashed up the middle by Jameyson cut the lead to 6-1, but the Lions would strand two runners on base.

WT plated two more runs in the sixth on an RBI groundout and a solo homer to go up 8-1. The Lions scored their final run of the game on a Hebler sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh after Nunez’ leadoff triple but could get no closer.

 

SOFTBALL

UPDATE – Schedule altered for Pack The Park weekend series against West Texas A&M.

COMMERCE – The inclement weather altered the schedule for the softball series between No. 6 Texas A&M University-Commerce and No. 13 West Texas A&M University.

Due to anticipated low temperatures associated with storm systems early Saturday, the start time for the doubleheader on Saturday (Apr 7) is now 3:00 p.m. The series will conclude with a 2:00 p.m. single game on Sunday (Apr 8).

Admission is complimentary to all games of the series with a voucher found at local business thanks to MUGS on the Square, or with a local ID.

 

Cold weather forces further postponement of Pack the Park series vs. West Texas A&M

COMMERCE – The persistent cold temperatures altered the schedule for the softball series between No. 6 Texas A&M University-Commerce and No. 13 West Texas A&M University.

The series will now consist of a doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 8, with a single game to be played at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, April 9.

The Lone Star Conference manual indicates not playing games at temperatures lower than 45 degrees, and Saturday’s high temperature will not be warm enough for action.

Admission is complimentary to all games of the series with a voucher found at local business thanks to MUGS on the Square, or with a local ID.

 

MEN’S GOLF

Lions ranked third in initial South Central Region rankings.

INDIANAPOLIS – The Texas A&M University-Commerce men’s golf team is ranked third in the initial release of the NCAA Division II Regional Rankings, as announced Friday.

These rankings are used to determine the field for the NCAA Championships in May. The South Central/West Super Regional Tournament will be in Amarillo on May 7-9. A total of 10 teams from both the South Central and West Regions will advance to this tournament. The top five teams at that tournament will advance to the NCAA Division II Championships on May 21-25 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at the Shoals, Fighting Joe Course, in Muscle Shoals, Ala.

The Lions are the top-ranked team in the Lone Star Conference, which does not have an automatic qualifier to the tournament. A&M-Commerce has finished in the top five positions in seven of the eight the Lions have played in this season.

A&M-Commerce is ranked 23rd nationally in the Golfstat team rankings. Also in the South Central Region are Colorado-Colorado Springs at No. 10 and St. Mary’s at No. 21.

The Lions close the regular season next Monday and Tuesday at the Arkansas-Fort Smith Hardscrabble Classic. The Lone Star Conference Championship is on April 23-24 in Abilene.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
1	Colorado-Colorado Springs
2	St. Mary’s
3	A&M-Commerce
4	Oklahoma Christian
5	Colorado Christian
6	Colorado School of Mines
7	Arkansas-Fort Smith
8	Colorado State-Pueblo
9	St. Edward’s
10	Western New Mexico

 

Josh Manck

Associate Athletics Director for Marketing and Communications | Texas A&M University-Commerce