SAN ANTONIO, Texas (May 3, 2019) – A four-run seventh inning allowed No.5-seed Texas A&M International to force extra innings, but No.4-seed Lubbock Christian University held off a bases loaded jam in the ninth inning and
Megan Darling produced a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning to send LCU into the Heartland Conference Tournament Championship Game with a 7-6 victory. The Lady Chaps meet Oklahoma Christian Saturday at noon, with LCU needing to win twice to claim their third tournament title in program history.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: LCU 7, TAMIU 6
Records: LCU (32-18), TAMIU (26-32)
Location: San Antonio, Texas (StMU Softball Stadium)
Length of Game: 2:46
Weather: 77 degrees, overcast, Wind-8 mph to LF
LCU Highlights:
Turning Point:
There were several turning points in the contest. Maddison Schofield's three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning for TAMIU turned the game around. TAMIU eventually had the bases loaded with one out in the top of the ninth inning, but a fielder's choice put-out at home and a
Jordan Wehr strikeout prevented the Dustdevils from taking the lead.
How it Happened:
- In the bottom of the second inning, KK Lopez-Liu hit a two-run double into the right field corner. Lindzi Clemmer extended the lead in the inning to 3-0 with a bases loaded walk.
- Following a run scored by the Dustdevils in the top of the third, Alivia Villarreal hit a solo home run over the left field fence to give LCU a 4-1 lead.
- In the top of the sixth inning, TAMIU scratched a run across with a Heather Ruiz sacrifice fly RBI. LCU answered the run and more with a pair of important runs to take a 6-2 lead. Morgan Dufour hit a liner to centerfield, which led to an error, and it drove in Lauren Singletary. Alexa Riggs followed with a bloop single to centerfield to score Dufour.
- TAMIU stormed back with a four-run top of the seventh inning. Schofeld hit a three-run home run before Ruiz tied the game with a two-out base hit.
- After getting out a bases loaded jam, LCU led off the ninth inning with a base hit by Savannah Wysocki. She turned out to be the game winning run, as Darling hit a liner into left-centerfield to walk off the game with an RBI.
Inside the Numbers:
- LCU (now 2-1 in neutral site games this season) improved to 9-8 in one-run games. All four of their games in the tournament have led to one-run decisions.
- The win in the ninth inning for LCU placed their record at 5-1 in games decided in extra innings (their second extra-inning win of the tournament).
- Megan Darling was responsible for the producing the game winning RBI. It was her second game winning RBI of the season.
- LCU and TAMIU were meeting for the seventh time this season and for the seventh time in the past week. LCU improved to 4-3 against TAMIU on the season, with Villarreal going 10-for-19 with three home runs and eight RBI against the Dustdevils this season.
- Jordan Meza (2-for-2), Heather Ruiz (2-for-3) and Morgan Chavarria (2-for-5) each had multi-hit games for TAMIU.
- TAMIU out-hit LCU 11-9, placing LCU with a 5-13 record this season when out-hit by an opponent.
- The Dustdevils stranded 12 runners, matching the most by an LCU opponent this season (third time by an opponent this season).
- LCU had their all-time record move to 10-5 in Heartland Conference Tournament play.
Up Next:
LCU plays No.2-seed Oklahoma Christian Saturday at noon in San Antonio, Texas, with the Lady Chaps having to defeat OC twice if they want to claim a berth to the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament.
