EDMOND, Okla. (February 15, 2020) – Lubbock Christian University improved to 3-0 this season when facing nationally ranked competition, as they rolled to an 8-3 win over No.7 Central Oklahoma Saturday in their only true road game of the Edmond Regional Festival II. The game was LCU's first road game of the season and their first road win over a nationally ranked squad since defeating No.9 St. Mary's on Apr. 30, 2016 in San Antonio, Texas.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: LCU 8, UCO 3
Records: LCU (11-1), UCO (8-8)
Location: Broncho Softball Field
Time of Game: 1:50
Weather: 58 – Cloudy (Wind 7 to LF)
LCU Highlights:
Turning Point:
Leading 1-0 in the third inning, LCU had a pair of runners in scoring position with no outs. UCO was able to register a pair of outs without allowing a run, but they were unable to get the third out before LCU's
Alivia Villarreal and
Brooke Makemson each had two-out base hits leading to a trio of runs and a 4-0 lead. The hits were LCU's only two-out base hits, as they were 2-for-7 in at-bats with two outs.
How it Happened:
- Skylar Herrera, the second batter of the game, was able to lift a deep fly to left field resulting in a solo home run.
- The Lady Chaps extended the lead to 4-0 in the third inning with three runs driven in with two outs. Villarreal plated a pair with a single and Makemson followed with a bloop-single down the right field line.
- Makemson scored off a double hit by Athena Muniz in the sixth inning and LCU's lead was extended to 5-0. It was not the lone run of the inning, as in the bottom half of the sixth inning, the Bronchos climbed back into the game. They had a trio of singles combined with a pair of walks and it led to three runs scoring. Two were off a Tori Ritz single to cut LCU's lead to 5-3.
- LCU answered with a three-run seventh inning. Clarissa Martinez and Villarreal each singled in a run before Makemson grounded out for an RBI.
Inside the Numbers:
- Taylor Franco improved to 6-1 on the season. Friday, she forced RSU into 10 groundouts and did not allow a fly-out. Saturday, she forced UCO into 10 groundouts and one fly-out. Franco allowed three runs off five hits and struck out five batters in 5.2 innings.
- The contest marked the first ever meeting between LCU and UCO.
- Historically, LCU is 86-62 all-time against nationally ranked foes and 14-29 against ranked foes since playing a NCAA Division II schedule in 2014.
- LCU was 2-for-3 with the bases loaded, with Villarreal going 2-for-2 in bases-loaded at-bats.
- The Lady Chaps were 9-for-17 with runners on base and 6-for-12 with runners in scoring position, while UCO was 3-for-12 with runners on base and 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. UCO was 0-for-3 with a runner at third and less than two outs.
- Skylar Herrera's home run was her third of the season and she is tied with Angela Donaldson for the team lead.
- LCU had three doubles in the game, matching a season high.
Next:
LCU completes their stay in the Edmond Regional Festival II Sunday with a pair of games. They open at 10 a.m. facing Colorado State – Pueblo and continue at noon facing Colo. Colorado Springs. Both games are played in Edmond at Broncho Softball Stadium.
