Oklahoma Panhandle State (9-27, 1-13 Heartland) at Lubbock Christian (26-9, 15-1 Heartland)
Friday, April 3 at 1 p.m.
Lubbock, Texas (PlainsCapital Park)
 
About Oklahoma Panhandle State
The Aggies have tallied an overall mark of 9-27 and are currently tied for last place within the Heartland Conference with a record of 1-13. Pitcher Samantha Arledge leads the league in innings pitched (116.1), strikeouts (129) and appearances (24).
 
History between LCU and OPSU
LCU now leads the all-time series, 4-0, following yesterday's sweep. The 2014 season marked the first meeting between the Lady Chaps and the Aggies, as LCU came up with a pair of wins, 18-4 and 6-3.
 
Last meeting of the two ball clubs
LUBBOCK, Texas (April 2, 2015) – Lubbock Christian jumped back into Heartland Conference action Thursday after following a pair of disappointing losses two days prior at #2 West Texas A&M to twice run-rule Oklahoma Panhandle State in five innings by scores of 11-2 and 12-4 lifted by a pair of home runs from each Sydney Beuthien and Jessica Loiacano.
 
The two wins kept the Lady Chaps (26-9, 15-1 Heartland) in first place within the Heartland, as St. Mary's defeated Texas A&M International in a doubleheader for an 11-2 record to move up to the second slot while TAMIU dropped to third with a mark of 13-4.
 
LCU took advantage of the Aggies (9-27, 1-13 Heartland) early on, plating themselves and earning a run with three walks, a balk and a wild pitch to set up Molly Davison three-run double to put the Lady Chaps up 4-0 in the first. The home team added another two runs on Beuthien's deep shot down the left field line before Loiacano notched a home run over right center to score herself and Sammie Murrietta, doubling the Lady Chap lead to 8-0 in inning number two.
 
Kelsey Hoppel, Taylan Halsell and Haley Hardison recorded successive singles in the third, and Hardison's placement of her ball to right center scored Hoppel, while a Jacie Thomason single through the left side brought Halsell around for a double-digit Lady Chap lead. A hit by Roxy Curiel was extended by an OPSU fielding error that gave Hardison time to come home and extend the lead to 11-0.
 
Courtney McGee, who did not allow any Aggie runs, was replaced by Abbi White in the circle and continued the Lady Chap shutout in the fourth. Attempting to extend the game past five innings, OPSU placed runners on first and third per a walk and single down the left field line. A Michaela MacGillivray RBI single up the middle scored the first Aggie run of the day, and teammate Brooklyne Bolton followed suit with an RBI single to center field, but the pair of runs was not enough as LCU took game one.
 
McGee (14-4) recorded the win on four hits, one walk and three strikeouts.
 
Beuthien and Loiacano mirrored their efforts in the second contest, both tallying a second home run in the first inning, and Liz Torres knocked one out as well to quickly put the Lady Chaps up 3-0. The Aggies evened the score in the third with the help of an LCU wild pitch and fielding error that equated in a run before a triple and second wild pitch added the other two scores.
 
Kelsey Hoppel took Ashton Bell's place at pitcher in the fourth and retired the first three OPSU batters. The Lady Chaps upped their lead in the bottom of the frame on a Davison single, a Katlin Reed walk and doubles by Addison Ard and Beuthien for a 6-3 cushion.
 
With the Aggie bases loaded in the fifth, Hoppel struck Samantha Arledge for an OPSU score, but the Lady Chaps were able to catch Darcie Wilson out at home and end the inning on a fielder's choice. Singles by Loiacano and Torres started the LCU offense in bottom of the fifth, and an Aggie throwing error scored pinch runner Abi Poe. Another single by Faith Koria drove in a pair of runs, and an RBI single from Buethien increased the lead to 10-4. Needing two runs to conclude the game, Murrietta came through with a double to right center for the eight run victory.
 
Hoppel (7-2) registered the win with two hits, a walk and a strikeout.
 
Beuthien's early impact
First year Lady Chap Sydney Beuthien has made quite an impression during the 2015 season despite not playing high school softball. The Era, Texas, native's high school was so small it did not sponsor the sport, but the 5-9 standout athlete excelled in basketball and track and field. After being discovered by LCU Head Coach Daren Hays last summer, the freshman has been putting up impressive numbers to lead the Heartland Conference and rank nationally. Beuthien leads the league in home runs (14), RBI (48), total bases (112) and triples (3), and her numbers rank 10th nationally in home runs and RBI.
 
Lady Chaps making an impact statistically
In addition to Beuthien's statistical rankings, the Lady Chaps are showing up in several team categories as well, despite LCU having yet to crack the NFCA polls. LCU leads the league in batting average (.364), doubles per game (1.69), home runs per game (1.63), on base percentage (.448), scoring (8.03), slugging percentage (.615), stolen bases per game (1.71) and triples per game (.26).
The Lady Chap batting average is second best in the nation, while their slugging percentage ranks third, scoring is fourth, home runs per game is fifth and on base percentage is good enough for sixth.