Lubbock Christian (34-11, 17-3 Heartland) at Texas A&M International (23-21, 15-6 Heartland)
Friday, April 24 at 1 p.m. (DH)
Laredo, Texas (Dustdevil Field)
 
About Texas A&M International
The Dustdevils have made a marked improvement from last season's record in the Heartland Conference where they finished 10-15 to a 15-6 mark so far in 2015. TAMIU has not fared as well within their last three series, losing a game to St. Edward's, being swept by St. Mary's and losing one to Oklahoma Panhandle State.
 
History between LCU and TAMIU
Last season commemorated the first meeting between the two ball clubs, with LCU earning a sweep at PlainsCapital Park by scores of 6-5, 2-0 and 15-3.
 
Last meeting of the Lady Chaps and Dustdevils
LUBBOCK, Texas (April 5, 2014) – Lubbock Christian exploded for four multiple run innings in a 15-3 victory over Texas A&M International with a pair of homeruns by Jessica Loiacano and another by Rebecca Billings while Lady Chap pitchers Katera Eltsosie and Lauren Hardin limited the Dustdevils to two hits Saturday afternoon at PlainsCapital Park.
 
Loiacano got the LCU offense going quickly in the bottom of the first with a three-run shot to left center, and with the bases loaded Billings earned a walk that scored Colburn for a 4-0 LCU (35-8, 14-4 Heartland) lead. Diana De La Paz extended the advantage to 5-0 by scoring on an illegal pitch to wrap up the first scoring frenzy.
 
Eltsosie gave up her only hit in the second inning on a Brenda Parnin RBI double to right center that cut the Lady Chap lead to 5-1, but Loiacano answered at her next at bat in the bottom of the frame for two more LCU runs to put the Lady Chaps up 6-1.
 
Billings hit her first pitch of the third inning over the left field fence for another LCU score, and Mallory Koschany tripled down the left field line to allow Kirstie Cochran to cross the plate. Koschany then joined in on the scoring festivities by taking advantage of a TAMIU (16-26, 8-7 Heartland) wild pitch to push LCU ahead 8-3. Colburn singled to left field and made her way to second on a Dustdevil fielding error, which also allowed Loiacano to cross the plate, and an Eltsosie RBI double extended LCU's lead to 12-1.
 
In the fourth inning, Billings doubled down the left field line, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and an RBI single by pinch hitter Addison Ard brought her home to give LCU another score. A Shlay Denison double down the right field line scored Ard, and Denison tallied another run on a wild pitch for a 15-1 Lady Chap lead.
 
The LCU defense struggled slightly in the top of the fifth with Hardin hitting a batter and a Lady Chap fielding error. Parnin collected her second hit on a single to right field that allowed to Dustdevils to score twice, but TAMIU was unable to piece together a remarkable comeback to complete the game in five innings.
 
Eltsosie (18-4) earned another win with the lone hit, six walks and a trio of strikeouts, while Sarah Johnson (4-8) took the loss with seven hits and four walks.
 
A fight to the finish
The Lady Chaps are able to decide their own destiny to determine if they are able to win back-to-back Heartland Conference regular season titles. LCU (17-3) is a spot ahead of St. Mary's (16-4) in the standings and holds the tie breaker after taking two of three from the Rattlers in March. StMU hosts St. Edward's this weekend and needs to win at least one game against the Hilltoppers and hope for LCU losses to jump ahead of the Lady Chaps. If LCU wins at least a pair against the Dustdevils, the Lady Chaps will take the title regardless of the St. Mary's outcome. Things will get interesting if TAMIU is able to steal any wins away from LCU.
 
LCU, Beuthien leaders in statistical categories
The Lady Chaps have risen on the national scene, vaulting themselves to the top of the ranks in batting average (.370) and double plays turned per game (.69). The team is also third in home runs per game (1.64), scoring (8.16) and slugging percentage (.623). The Lady Chaps are dominant within the conference as well, led by freshman Sydney Beuthien. The Era, Texas, native is tops in hits (65), RBI (59), home runs (16) and total bases (125).
 
Foster, Lady Chap seniors finish home careers on top
LUBBOCK, Texas (April 21, 2015) – PlainsCapital Park hosted an afternoon filled with celebration and recognition on Tuesday, beginning with a much deserved appreciation of longtime Lubbock Christian employee Joyce Foster followed by the honoring of the three senior Lady Chaps in Faith Koria, Jessica Loiacano and Courtney McGee, which all was commemorated by a sweep of the University of the Southwest in 14-0 and 10-1 wins.
 
The festivities began with the surprise tribute to Foster where current and former LCU coaches and staff along with student athletes donned shirts with "Foster" and the number one emblazoned on the back. Foster was brought onto the field where she was presented with a framed shirt, picture frame and flowers while she was overwhelmingly thanked for her dedication to LCU over the past three decades.
 
Koria, Loiacano and McGee did not disappoint, combining for six runs scored on three hits and six RBI, and McGee picked up her 17^th win of the season. The trio accomplished those numbers in a pair of shortened five-inning games.
 
The Lady Chaps (34-11) fed off of the excitement of pregame with a three-run homer by Liz Torres in the first to quickly jump ahead of the Mustangs (24-16). The home team then took it to USW two innings later started by a solo blast from Sydney Beuthien and an Ashton Bell home run to right center to extend LCU's lead to 7-0. A double by Koria to left center pasted two more runs on the board for a 9-0 Lady Chap advantage.
 
Loiacano contributed on her senior day with a two-run homer in the fourth for another pair of runs. A Pam Pence double to center field brought two Lady Chaps around, and a single by Haley Hardison let Pence make her way around for the 14-0 lead. The Mustangs were able to garner a hit in the bottom of the inning, but LCU quickly shut them down to take game one.
 
Kelsey Hoppel (11-3) took the win on four hits and four strikeouts.
 
Game two was more of a showdown early on, as the Mustangs held LCU to just one run through the third inning. Bell changed things by tripling to score Sammie Murrietta and scurried in on the next at bat to put the Lady Chaps in front, 3-0. USW earned their first run of the day in the fourth on a Taly Ramirez single up the middle.
 
Hoppel scored on a pop up by Loiacano before an RBI single from Molly Davison added two scores to extend the lead to 6-1. With the bases loaded, McGee was hit by a pitch, bringing home Bell in the fourth. Needing two runs to end the game, Murrietta stepped up and homered down the left field line with two runners on for the 10-1 victory.
 
McGee (17-5) earned the win with two hits and a trio of strikeouts.