SAN ANTONIO, Texas (May 4, 2019) – No.4 Lubbock Christian University's journey towards a third Heartland Conference Tournament title were thwarted in the bottom of the seventh inning, as No.2 Oklahoma Christian scored the winning run on a wild pitch to defeat the Lady Chaps 4-3.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: OC 4, LCU 3
Records: LCU (32-19), OC (38-14)
Location: San Antonio, Texas (StMU Softball Stadium)
Length of Game: 2:16
Weather: 76 degrees, overcast, calm
LCU Highlights:
Turning Point:
Oklahoma Christian had the bases loaded with the score tied and one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. LCU attempted a 3-2-4 double play, but the umpire called the batter safe at first. Instead of a third out, the bases remained loaded with two outs and the Lady Eagles scored on a wild pitch.
How it Happened:
- A bases-loaded base hit up the middle by Morgan Dufour provided the Lady Chaps the opening lead at 2-0 in the top of the second inning.
- OC eventually tied the contest with an RBI-double from Bridget White in the third inning and a RBI-double from Sierra Schultz in the fourth inning.
- LCU regained the lead in the top of the fifth inning, as Alivia Villarreal hit a single to right field to score Megan Darling.
- White came through again for OC, tying the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning with a single.
- Singles by Brie Dunckel and White, along with a free pass to Kaylie Upton, loaded the bases with one out. LCU appeared to get out of the jam on a double play, but the call at first base stood as the runner being safe prolonging the inning. In a relief outing, Jordan Wehr's pitch bounced to the backstop and White scored the winning run from third base.
Inside the Numbers:
- LCU ends their season 9-9 in one-run games. All five of their games in the tournament ended one-run decisions (3-2). LCU went 2-5 this season against OC, with all five losses resulted in one-run losses (three walk-off losses).
- LCU fell to 4-3 in games when tied after six innings.
- Each team struggled with runners in scoring position, as OC was 3-for-13 and LCU was 2-for-13. OC's Bridget White, who finished the game 3-for-4, was 2-for-2 in at-bats with runners in scoring position.
- OC went 0-for-1 in bases-loaded at-bats and finished the season 0-for-9 in bases-loaded at-bats against LCU this season.
- Each team was 5-for-7 in the game getting the leadoff batter aboard.
- TAMIU out-hit LCU 11-9, placing LCU with a 5-13 record this season when out-hit by an opponent.
- Seniors Megan Darling, Logan Grado, Lindzi Clemmer, K'leigh Arredondo, KK Lopez-Liu and Morgan Dufour competed in their final game as members of the Lady Chaps.
- LCU had their all-time record close to 10-6 in Heartland Conference Tournament play, as LCU joins the Lone Star Conference next season.
Up Next:
The 2019 season comes to a close, as LCU completes their season 32-19. The Lady Chaps needed an automatic qualifier to advance to the NCAA postseason. Oklahoma Christian claimed the berth with the win over LCU. The Lady Chaps claimed the conference tournament title in 2016 and 2017, and this season marked their first runner-up finish.
