COMMERCE, Texas (May 13, 2022) – Oklahoma Christian didn't generate much offensive punch against Texas A&M-Commerce pitcher Emily Otto on Friday afternoon, and by the time the Eagles finally did, it was too late.

No. 14-ranked TAMUC ended No. 19 OC's softball season with a 10-2 win in an elimination game of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional at TAMUC's Cain Family Field. It was the first time in OC's three trips to the NCAA tournament in which the Eagles (39-15) did not win at least one game.

TAMUC (43-14) jumped to a quick 3-0 lead on a three-run, first-inning home run by Avery Boley and Otto (21-4) did the rest, limiting OC to only one hit over the first five innings before Tristyn Hamilton and Brooklin Bain each tripled and scored in the sixth. The left-hander retired 14 straight Eagles in the interim.

"It's obviously not the way we wanted it to turn out," said first-year OC coach Shalee Rodriguez. "I told the girls that only one team goes home a winner every year. Obviously, that's not us. I felt like we had a little bit left in us that we could have given, if the game was longer than seven innings, but once again, it took us a little bit too long to get going."

The Lions built their lead to 6-0 in the third against OC starter Kali Crandall (14-7) as six consecutive batters reached base against Crandall and reliever Grace Anderson. Hamilton and shortstop Chloe Woodward did provide a defensive highlight during the inning, with Hamilton fielding a double by Chanlee Oakes and firing the ball to Woodward, whose relay throw home to catcher Whitney Walde was in time to retire Boley, who was trying to score from first base.

"It was a gap shot, and in my head I was thinking, 'Get the ball in. Get the ball in. Just don't let any more runs score.' We were already down three," Hamilton said. "I just knew that I had to get the ball back to Chloe and Chloe saw (Boley) go and we hosed her. It was definitely a good feeling, knowing I was part of that play."

TAMUC, playing as the visiting team on its home field, picked up two-run homers from Alyssa LeBlanc and Uxua Modrego in the sixth inning to extend its lead to 10-0, meaning the Eagles would need to score three runs in the bottom of the inning to avoid a run-rule loss. They almost did so.

With one out, Hamilton lined the ball to right-center field for a triple and Bain, the next batter, did the same. After pinch-hitter Rebeca Fajardo worked a walk out of Otto, Bain scored on a groundout by Walde. TAMUC intentionally walked Aaliyah Brown – one of the Lone Star Conference's top hitters – before Otto retired Kylie Janzen on a deep fly ball to center field to end the inning, the game and OC's season.

Hitting the triple "was a great feeling, especially after struggling for most of this tournament," Bain said. "Tristyn had a great hit. I thought it was going to go out (for a homer). I just knew that I couldn't leave her standing over there and we just had to get three more to possibly go into the next inning and keep fighting, because I wanted to keep going. It was great to go out on that hit. I wasn't ready to be done."

The game marked the end of the playing careers of OC's two seniors, Lindsey Stoeckel and Abi LaValley, who each played key roles for the Eagles this season. But OC returns the rest of its 20-woman roster and the Eagles fully expect they'll be back among the top teams in the LSC and Division II in 2023.

"I'm very excited for next season," Hamilton said. Added Bain: "For sure. We're going to go farther next time – and host it, too."

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