LUBBOCK, Texas (March 13, 2015) – Lubbock Christian took down the fifth-ranked team in the nation Friday afternoon at PlainsCapital Park, storming back after a two-run first inning deficit to defeat St. Mary's 4-2 in game one and capping the day with a 2-1 victory after holding the Rattlers to a single run in the top of the seventh.

The Lady Chaps (17-5, 7-0 Heartland) handed the Rattlers (17-7, 2-2 Heartland) their first conference losses of 2015, avenging last season's sweep by St. Mary's in San Antonio.

StMU began the series with a single by leadoff batter Nicole Sardelich, and a Vianna Gutierrez Touchtone walk put Sardelich in scoring position. A groundout by Daniele Nash pushed both runners up a base before a two-RBI single down the right field line from Sydney Wellman scored Sardelich and Gutierrez to put the Lady Chaps in an early 2-0 deficit.

LCU stranded a Rattler on third base in the top of the fourth and found a bit of their own offense in the bottom of the inning. Jessica Loiacano made it to first by way of a walk, putting Abi Poe in position as a pinch runner. A single by Molly Davison to center field put Poe on second, and an Ashton Bell single up the middle gave the Lady Chaps their first run of the day as Poe made her way across the plate. Liz Torres hit an RBI single to right center to knot the game at 2-all, and a single to center field by Addison Ard scored Ashton Bell for a 3-2 Lady Chap lead.

Courtney McGee struck out a Rattler batter in the top of the fifth with bases loaded to preserve LCU's advantage, and Loiacano singled up the middle to score Sydney Beuthien to double the Lady Chap lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the frame. McGee again went to work in the next inning, by striking out all three batters, and St. Mary's was unable to add to their total, giving LCU the first game win.

McGee (8-2) earned the win with eight strikeouts, seven hits and five walks.

The Lady Chaps struck first in the second game by stranding three Rattler runners in the top of the second by then getting some help from the Rattlers in the second half of the inning as Bell reached first on a fielding error, stole second and advanced to third on another error. Liz Torres singled to left field, bringing Bell around for the inaugural run of the contest, but the Lady Chaps were unable to add to the total, leaving a trio on base.

In the bottom of the third, Beuthien tripled to left field and somehow stole home to put the Lady Chaps up 2-0. The Rattlers were poised to make a run in the top of the seventh with Paredes to cut the lead to 2-1, but succumbed to the Lady Chaps.

Kelsey Hoppel (4-0) took the win with seven strikeouts, four hits and seven walks.

The Lady Chaps and Rattlers conclude their series tomorrow at noon at PlainsCapital Park.