OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (April 5, 2019) – This time family was involved... Going at it for the first time ever in conference play, brother head coaches Daren (Lubbock Christian) and Shanon (Oklahoma Christian) led their teams to a doubleheader split Friday evening at Tom Heath Field. For LCU, who fell in the opener 2-1 in nine innings, they were able to rally with a three-run seventh inning in the seventh inning to garner a 4-1 win to split their seventh Heartland Conference doubleheader this season.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Game 1: OC 2, LCU 1 (9 inn.) |
Game 2: LCU 4, OC 1
Records: LCU (25-10, 12-7), OC (27-7, 11-4)
Location: Oklahoma City, Okla. (Tom Heath Field)
Time of Game: Game 1: 2:50 |
Game 2: 1:41
Weather: Game 1: 76-Partly Cloudy, Wind-9 to SE |
Game 2: 74-Partly Cloudy, Wind-9 to SE
Game 1 vs. OC
LCU Highlights:
Turning Point:
OC's Hunter Strickland led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a double, setting herself up as the game winning run. It was OC's only extra-base hit of the game.
How it Happened:
- Strickland was responsible for both runs for OC. After reaching on an infield single, she eventually stole third base and scored on a wild pitch in the first inning.
- LCU tied the game in the top of the sixth inning. Breanna Anderson singled to right-centerfield, stole second base and then scored on a RBI single from Savannah Wysocki.
- In the seventh inning, OC received a break, as LCU's Arredondo reached on a walk and was called out on an attempted steal due to batter's interference.
- Strickland led off the ninth inning with a double and reached third base on a wild pitch. On a ground ball back to Franco, she retired the batter (Kaylie Upton) but Strickland broke home while Upton was retired and was able to score the winning run.
Inside the Numbers:
- The loss was LCU's first in extra innings, where they are 3-1 this season.
- LCU fell to 5-4 when the opposition scores in the first inning (5-6 when the opponent scores first).
- LCU was 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and OC was 0-for-13 (LCU was 1-for-17 with runners on base).
- OC was 0-for-6 in bases-loaded at-bats.
- Strickland was 4-for-4 reaching base in a lead-off at-bat.
- LCU fell to 6-2 in one-run games.
Game 2 vs. OC
LCU Highlights:
Turning Point:
With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning, OC had the opportunity to take the lead with a trio of hits (of five hits in the game), but LCU able to record an out on the bases (at third base) and get a pair of fly-outs to escape the jam without allowing a run.
How it Happened:
- OC starting pitcher Kaylie Upton only last four batters, as she walked all four and tossed a wild pitch allowing Savannah Wysocki to score. LCU was unable to add any further damage in the first inning.
- Kayla Eichler tied the game in the bottom of the second inning with a solo home run for OC.
- After avoiding the sixth inning jam, LCU responded with a Breanna Anderson lead-off double. Alexa Riggs and K'leigh Arredondo singled, with Arredondo's giving LCU the lead. A pair of fielder's choices allowed LCU to build the lead to 4-1.
Inside the Numbers:
- LCU improved to 18-3 when scoring in the first inning and 20-4 when scoring first.
- LCU is now 3-1 in games in which they are tied after the sixth inning.
- K'leigh Arredondo increased her total of "game-winning RBI" (unofficial statistic) to six on the season.
- The teams were a combined 1-for-16 in two-out at-bats (LCU was 0-for-8).
- Arredondo was 1-for-1 in bases-loaded at-bats, but the rest of the team went a combined 0-for-6.
- Of LCU's 14 balls put into play and resulting in outs, 13 were ground outs.
Up Next:
The two squads close out the three-game series Saturday at noon in Oklahoma City.
