HEARTLAND CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN (30-23, No.2 Seed) vs. LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (31-15, No.3 Seed)
Thursday, May 3, 2018 – 1:30 PM
Rattlers' Softball Stadium (San Antonio, Texas)
All-Time Series: LCU leads 32-8

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (May 3, 2018) – Lubbock Christian University softball opens postseason play facing two-seed Oklahoma Christian at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the second game of the Heartland Conference Tournament hosted by one-seed St. Mary's University in San Antonio. All games of the five-team double-elimination tournament are scheduled at Rattlers' Stadium on the campus of St. Mary's. The winner of the contest will advance to play Friday at noon, while the loser will play an elimination game later Thursday night at 6:30 p.m.

LAST GAME
LUBBOCK, Texas (April 28, 2018) – The Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals won 8-6 over Texas A&M International Saturday at PlainsCapital Park to close out the regular season while honoring seven Lady Chap seniors.
 
The Lady Chaps (31-15, 18-12) built a 6-1 lead in the first four innings, scoring a run in the first with KK Lopez-Liu driving in Lindzi Clemmer. The Dustdevils (24-32, 18-12) plated a run in the top of the fourth to even up the score. LCU pushed five runs across in the bottom of the fourth with Clemmer being intentionally walked to load the bases followed by a walk issued to Lopez-Liu to bring in senior, Courtney Medina. Sydney Beuthien then doubled to drive in Megan Darling and Clemmer. The Dustdevils then intentionally walked Morgan Dufour for the second time in the game to load the bases for K'leigh Arredondo who walked to bring Lopez-Liu home. Senior Sara Ralston proceeded to hit a sacrifice fly to right field that allowed Beuthien to score.
 
The Dustdevils scored a run in the fifth inning off a Melanie Gamboa home run and two more in the sixth inning to make it a two run game. Senior Adelae Vayas tripled in the bottom of the sixth inning scoring Senior Casey Ingram and Arredondo to put LCU back up by four. TAMIU managed two additional runs in the seventh to cap their scoring.
 
Monique Francois (22-6) started the game in the circle for Lubbock Christian pitching 5.1 innings allowing four runs off seven hits striking out seven Dustdevils to notch her conference leading 22^ndvictory of the season. Taylor Hinojos threw the final 1. 2 innings in relief for the Lady Chaps allowing only one earned run off two hits to pick up her second save of the year. Melanie Lint (11-9) pitched the first 2.1 innings for Texas A&M International allowing one run off three hits to suffer her ninth loss of 2018. Delainy Thompson pitched 1.2 innings in relief giving up five runs off three hits before giving way to Sara Caterson who threw the final two innings for the Dustdevils surrendering two more runs off five hits.

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Lubbock Christian led the Heartland Conference with seven members making the All-Conference Team:

• Lindzi Clemmer – Player of the Year, First Team Second Base
• Monique Francois – First Team Pitcher
• Sydney Beuthien – First Team Outfield
• Morgan Dufour – First Team At-Large
• Sara Ralston – Second Team Catcher
• Courtney Medina – Second Team Outfield
• KK Lopez-Liu – Second Team Designated Player

 
TOURNAMENT MEMORIES
This season marks LCU's third season eligible for Heartland Conference and NCAA postseason play and LCU is participating in their third Heartland Conference Tournament, winning both of the previous conference tournaments in San Antonio. Last year the Lady Chaps opened with a win over OC an before falling to St. Mary's, which forced a rematch with OC who they defeated again to move into the championship game needing two wins over StMU. They defeated the Rattlers twice, winning both games 4-2. LCU was led by Tournament MVP, Katera Eltsosie (pitcher). Also making the Heartland Conference All-Tournament team were Lindzi Clemmer (infield), Casey Ingram (infield) and Sara Ralston (catcher).

AGAINST OC
The Lady Eagles and the Lady Chaps competed against each other when both were in the Sooner Athletic Conference in the NAIA. They both moved into the NCAA Division II and have continued to be conference foes as members of the Heartland Conference. Lubbock Christian holds a 32-8 advantage in the all-time series. This is the third consecutive season LCU and OC have opened the conference tournament playing against each other.

PRIOR MEETING VS. OC
LUBBOCK, Texas (April 14, 2018) – The Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals were held to four hits, but they became beneficiaries of 11 walks and three hit batters to help rebound from a 6-2 deficit in the fifth inning with a 10-6 win to take the final game of the series and complete a three-game Heartland Conference sweep of Oklahoma Christian at PlainsCapital Park Saturday.
 
The Lady Chaps (27-11, 16-8) were held hitless through the first 4.2 innings while still scoring three runs along the way. LCU scored a run in the first inning with Megan Darling scoring from third base on a wild pitch. In the second inning, the Lady Eagles (25-22, 14-11) plated four runs, with the first (Hunter Strickland) scoring on a Lady Chap fielding error. Madison Nordyke doubled to clear the bases accounting for the other three runs. LCU scored another run without recording a hit in the fourth inning, with Averi Miller scoring on a wild pitch. LCU scored another run in the fifth inning without a hit, as Sara Ralston drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Morgan Dufour.
 
Courtney Media recorded the first Lady Chap hit in the fifth inning, and it came with the bases loaded to drive in KK Lopez-Liu and Haley Hardison,. The runs brought LCU within a run of the Lady Eagles (6-5). In the sixth inning, Lubbock Christian scored five runs to complete the comeback. Lopez-Liu hit a three-run bomb over the center field fence, on a 3-2 count, to put the Lady Chaps ahead 8-6. Three batters later, Medina sent a missile up the middle to drive in K'leigh Arredondo and Sara Ralston.
 
Monique Francois (20-3) started in the circle for the Lady Chaps, throwing all five innings and allowing five earned runs off seven hits, to notch her 20^th victory of the season. Kaylie Upton got the start in the circle for Oklahoma Christian. She combined for 3.2 innings while making her way to the circle three different stints throughout the game (she also played first base and right field). Madison Nordyke (5-7) pitched 1.1 innings in relief in a similar fashion to Upton, as Nordyke made two different appearances in the circle, while giving up five runs on one hit to suffer her seventh loss of the year. Madison Hagood threw one inning of relief, giving up two runs without allowing a hit.