Brain Game: Seven Times

By changing one letter at a time to form different English words, and leaving all other letters in their original positions, convert SEVEN into TIMES in the fewest number of steps possible. Good luck!

S E V E N _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ T I M E S

Here is a six-step SOLUTION.

A SIX-STEP SOLUTION:

SEVEN > SEVER > LEVER > LIVER > LIVES > LIMES > TIMES

Did you come up with a different solution? Please post it in the comments; thanks!