LUBBOCK, Texas (March 21, 2021) – Pitching, hitting, base running and fielding are the elements of softball and they were all on display at PlainsCapital Park Sunday, as Lubbock Christian University swept UT Permian Basin 8-0 and 10-0. In the circle, LCU combined to allow three hits, with pitcher
Maxine Valdez pitching a no-hitter in the second game, while they combined for 18 runs, had no errors and set a program record for a doubleheader against the same opponent with a combined 12 stolen bases.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Game 1: LCU 8, UTPB 0 (6 inn.) | Game 2: LCU 10, UTPB 0 (5 inn.)
Records: LCU (17-8, 7-5), UTPB (3-19, 1-11)
Location: Lubbock, N.M. (PlainsCapital Park)
Time of Game: Game 1: 1:43 | Game 2: 1:30
Weather: Game 1: 69, wind 17mph out to CF 0mph | Game 2: 75, wind 14mph out to CF
Game 1
LCU Highlights:
Turning Point:
Alice Marion led off the game with a single for UTPB, but then
Taylor Franco retired the next 14 batters she faced.
How it Happened:
- Unable to take advantage of a Skylar Herrera triple in the first inning, LCU was able to take the game's first lead in the second inning, with a two-run two-out rally via a home run from Alivia Villarreal for a 2-0 lead.
- Addi Lewis connected for a two-run home run in the third inning to build the lead to 4-0.
- Savannah Wysocki added to the 4-0 lead with a RBI-single in the fourth inning, which was then followed by a two-run fifth inning (Kamryn Gibbs drove in both) for a 7-0 LCU lead. Herrera led off the sixth inning with a double and scored on a Lewis single to activate the run-rule.
Inside the Numbers:
- Taylor Franco improved to 10-3 on the season in the circle. She moved into sole possession of second place in LCU history in career shutouts with 13 (record is 19 by Alyssa Gutierrez). The complete game was her 11th of the season and it was her seventh shutout of the season (she has combined for two additional shutouts).
- Herrera hit her team-leading fourth triple of the season.
- All of UTPB's outs from balls put into play were ground-outs, as UTPB hit into 14 ground-outs and no fly-outs.
- Alivia Villarreal hit her third home run of the season and her 10th of her LCU career.
- Addi Lewis' home run was her first of the season and fourth of her LCU career. She marks the ninth different Lady Chaps player to hit a home run this season.
- Herrera had a career-high seven fielding assists, which is the most by a Lady Chaps player since the 2019 season.
Game 2
LCU Highlights:
- Maxine Valdez completed a no-hitter and complete game shutout, with no hits allowed in 5.0 innings.
- Tyla Lee went 2-for-3 with a double and a home run for two RBI.
- Skylar Herrera was 1-for-3 with a double and a trio of RBI.
Turning Point:
A sharply hit ball almost snuck through the right side to end the no-hitter, but
Skylar Herrera was able to dive to her left and complete a 4-3 put-out to end the game in the fifth inning.
How it Happened:
- Skylar Herrera was responsible for the first two runs for LCU. She doubled down the left field line to score Savannah Wysocki in the first inning and was able to score Kamryn Gibbs in the third inning for a 2-0 lead.
- Athena Muniz hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning, as LCU had eight runs off six hits in the inning. Tyla Lee capped the inning's scoring with a two-run home run for a 10-0 lead.
Inside the Numbers:
- Brooke Makemson extended her hit streak to 22 games to set a program record. The only prior hit streak of at least 20 games in program history was by Raquel Hawkins, who had a 20-game hit streak in the inaugural 2008 season.
- Tyla Lee hit her third career home run in the game, which was the second of the weekend.
- LCU had a second consecutive game of six stolen bases (both were season highs). The last time LCU had at least six stolen bases was on Feb. 9, 2020 against New Mexico Highlands. The 12 stolen bases in the combined two games was the most since LCU combined for 13 stolen bases on April 23 and April 27 of the 2013 season, and it was the most combined number of stolen bases LCU has ever recorded in a doubleheader against the same opponent.
- Maxine Valdez went 5.0 innings and faced two batters over the minimum, as she had seven strikeouts en route to her first collegiate no-hitter and LCU's 18th in program history (second against UTPB).
- Athena Muniz slugged her second home run of the homestand and fifth of the season. The home run was her sixth of her career.
- LCU's no-hitter was their fourth consecutive shutout of the season (1th team shutout of the season). The four consecutive shutouts is their highest mark since April 2011 and it's one back of matching their program record of five from March 2008 (inaugural season).
- The game was LCU's 300th home game in program history.
- LCU improved to 28-0 all-time against UTPB and they are now 19-0 against UTPB in Lubbock.
LCU No-Hitter History
1. 2/13/08 – vs. University of the Southwest (Marissa Gonzalez)
2. 3/5/08 – vs. UT-Permian Basin (Marissa Gonzalez)
3. 3/19/08 – vs. Dordt College (Marissa Gonzalez)
4. 5/17/09 – vs. Shorter College (Alyssa Gutierrez)
5. 2/20/10 – vs. Northwestern Oklahoma St. University (Alyssa Gutierrez)
6. 4/19/10 – vs. Oklahoma Baptist University (Alyssa Gutierrez)
7. 4/12/11 – vs. University of the Southwest (Meagan Navarrette / Carollin Hall)
8. 4/12/11 – vs. University of the Southwest (Alyssa Freight / Amanda Longorio)
9. 3/16/12 – vs. Waldorf College (Sarah Mendez)
10. 4/1/12 – vs. Oklahoma Baptist University (Sarah Mendez)
11. 2/9/13 – vs. University of the Southwest (Katera Eltosie)
12. 2/16/13 – vs. Graceland University (Katera Eltosie)
13. 3/12/13 – vs. Mount Marty College (Tori Bayer)
14. 2/20/16 – vs. Clarke University (Katlyn Homes)
15. 3/21/17 – vs. Eastern New Mexico University (Katlyn Homes)
16. 2/20/18 – vs. St. Edward's University (
Monique Francois)
17. 2/15/19 – vs. University of the Southwest (
Taylor Franco)
18. 3/22/21 – vs. UT-Permian Basin (
Maxine Valdez)
Up Next:
LCU takes a six-game win streak to Commerce, Texas Friday, as they battle in a Lone Star Conference doubleheader scheduled for a 4 p.m. first pitch.
