Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SAN ANTONIO, Texas (April 30, 2016) – Lubbock Christian University softball fell 3-0 to ninth-ranked St. Mary's before defeating the one-seed Rattlers 9-1 in a run-ruled five innings to claim the Heartland Conference Tournament Championship at The Softball Stadium inside The Park at St. Mary's in San Antonio Saturday.

SLOW START
The Lady Chaps (45-13) got off to a slow start at the plate in game one only, garnering three hits while allowing the Rattlers (43-11) six. StMU recorded a run in the first and two more in the second.

IN THE CIRCLE
Katlyn Holmes (20-5) earned the start in the circle for the Lady Chaps in the title game and allowed three runs off of four hits to suffer her fifth loss of the season in two innings of work. Katera Eltsosie came in to finish the final four innings not giving up any runs off of two hits. Jorden Russell (18-4) started and completed six and two-thirds innings for the St. Mary's, allowing two hits to earn her 18th win of the year. Ashley Mills (4) came in to pitch the final out allowing one hit to notch her fourth save of 2016.

ON FIRE
LCU scored six runs in the first inning of the 'if necessary' game and never looked back. After allowing St. Mary's to get a run in the top half of the first inning, the Lady Chaps led off the bottom half with a walk to Lindzi Clemmer. Ashton Bell singled to center followed by a Morgan Colburn single that scored Clemmer before Molly Davison drew a walk to load the bases, and Liz Torres hit a ball up the middle to score to score Bell. The Rattlers then changed pitchers before Sammie Murietta tripled to right center field to clear the bases. In the second inning, Eltsosie led off with a home run over the left field fence. A Sydney Beuthien single in the fourth scored Colburn to put LCU up 8-1. With one out in the fifth, Eltsosie hit her second home run of the game to seal the walk-off, run-rule victory to clench the Heartland Conference Tournament Championship.

HARDWOOD TO DIRT
After hanging up her high-tops in exchange for cleats, Kelsey Hoppel (4-0) has been money in the circle. The senior started the 'if necessary' game for LCU by going the distance and allowing  one run off of seven hits for her fourth victory in as many weeks with softball. For StMU, Hope Russell (8-5) only went one-third of an inning, but allowed five runs off of three hits for her fifth loss this year. Kristi Rangel came in to throw an inning and two-thirds allowing two runs off of five hits before being replaced by Ashley Mills who pitched the final two and one-third innings allowing another two runs off of five more hits.

ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM
Five Lady Chaps were selected to the All-Tournament Team, led by Tournament MVP Morgan Colburn. Ashton Bell, Molly Davison, Katera Eltsosie and Kelsey Hoppel were also selected to the Heartland Conference Tournament All-Tournament Team.

REGIONAL
The win punches the ticket for the Lady Chaps to the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament. Monday morning at 9 a.m. (CST) the NCAA will host a selection show to reveal the 64 teams moving on and where they will each play. Head to www.lcuchaps.com for all game times and locations.