MANSFIELD, Texas (February 19, 2015) – The Mansfield North Texas Softball Bash did not begin in Lubbock Christian's favor on Thursday as the Lady Chaps were defeated by Midwestern State, 8-2, and Cameron, 4-2, at James McKnight Park East.

LCU (8-3) struggled offensively, mustering just six hits in each contest, while being struck out a total of 16 times throughout the day. Three of the four LCU runs came by way of two deep shots by Liz Torres, who belted her third and fourth homers of the season.

The first run of the day was captured in the second inning by MSU (9-4) by way of a Kelley Schaefer double, who made her way to third on a wild pitch, and was brought around on an RBI single from Taylor Bermudes.

Torres then knocked her first home run in the ensuing frame, tying the game at 1-1. The Mustangs' Erin Knox answered with her own blast past right center field to give MSU a 2-1 advantage.

A Katy Vandewater homer in the top of the sixth added two more scores to the Mustang total for a 4-1 lead. A pair of MSU singles and a fielder's choice scored Bermudes to put Midwestern up 5-1. Two more MSU home runs in the top of the seventh added a trio of runs to the total to widen the lead to 8-1.
Sammie Murrietta gave the Lady Chaps a gleam of hope in their final attempt at the plate by sending a shot past center field, but two LCU strikeouts sandwiched a Lady Chap groundout to complete the game.

Courtney McGee (4-1) suffered her first loss of the season while delivering nine strikeouts and two walks.

Against the Aggies (8-2), Ashton Bell made her start in the circle by way of fanning the first CU batters. Three Lady Chap singles by Katlin Reed, Faith Koria and Bell in the top of the third loaded the bases for LCU, but the team was unable to turn in any runners, keeping the game scoreless.

A bunt by Carly Allerheiligen finally began some offense for the Aggies, and a single and wild pitch plated two more batters before a double down the right field line by Chelsea DeLong put Cameron on top, 2-0.

LCU neutralized the score in the top of the fourth on home run number two from Torres before CU's Lauren Renneker retaliated with a bomb of her own to give the Aggies a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth.

A double by Bell in the fifth was the final scoring opportunity for the Lady Chaps, as LCU was only able to produce one more hit before the conclusion of the day.

Bell (1-2) took the loss after totaling seven strikeouts.

The Lady Chaps are back in action tomorrow at The Bash, taking on Oklahoma City at noon and Texas Wesleyan at 4 p.m.