COMMERCE, Texas (March 26, 2021) –
Tyla Lee hit two home runs for Lubbock Christian University, in the Lady Chaparrals Lone Star Conference series opener at No.2 Texas A&M-Commerce, but it was not enough for the win, as they fell 4-3. LCU was able to rebound with
Skylar Herrera driving in three runs to help LCU top the Lions 9-6 to split the series and end TAMUC's 16-game win streak.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Game 1: LCU 3, No.2 TAMUC 4 | Game 2: LCU 9, No.2 TAMUC 6 (5 inn.)
Records: LCU (18-9, 8-6), TAMUC (20-5, 13-1)
Location: Commerce, Texas (Cain Family Complex)
Time of Game: Game 1: 1:43 | Game 2: 1:30
Weather: Game 1: 75, calm/clear | Game 2: 75, calm/clear
Game 1
LCU Highlights:
- Tyla Lee was 3-for-3 with two home runs and two RBI
- Skyler Herrera was 1-for-4 with a RBI
- Kamryn Gibbs was 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
Turning Point:
LCU had a leadoff double by
Kamryn Gibbs in the top of the seventh inning, but they stranded the runner at third base and fell by a run.
How it Happened:
- Uxua Modrego drove in the opening run of the game in the bottom of the first inning, but LCU prevented any further damage with a double play turned on a line drive hit to Lee at third base.
- The two teams traded off runs in the second inning. Lee hit a leadoff solo home run to centerfield in the top of the second inning for LCU, as the Lions scored an unearned run off an error to regain the lead (2-1).
- LCU tied the game with two outs in the fifth inning, as Herrera hit a liner to left-centerfield beyond the diving reach of the centerfielder resulting in a double and allowing Gibbs to score all the way from first base. TAMUC was able to pull off a double steal in the bottom half of the inning to regain the lead, before adding to it with a bases-loaded walk.
- Lee hit a second leadoff home run in the game in the fifth inning to cut the deficit to 4-3. In the sixth inning, Gibbs doubled to lead things off in the seventh inning, advanced to third on a groundout by Savannah Wysocki. She was stranded there, as Herrera struck out and Brooke Makemson grounded out to first base.
Inside the Numbers:
- Taylor Franco dropped to 10-4 on the season in the circle. She matched a season high allowing three earned runs. Franco did register her 12th complete game of the season and she claimed her 27th complete game of her LCU career (sits fourth all-time in program history).
- LCU fell to 1-3 in one-run games this season.
- The Lady Chaps out-hit TAMUC 10-7, putting their record at 17-4 when out-hitting an opponent this season. It was LCU's first loss this season (9-1) when hitting at least two home runs.
- Lee now has five home runs on the season and in her LCU career. She becomes the third Lady Chaps member this season to have a multi-homer game, as Herrera and Makemson have each had two-homer games.
- LCU was 5-for-7 getting the leadoff batter aboard and seven of their hits came with the bases empty. LCU had three hits with runners on base, but was 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position. The one hit was by Athena Muniz, but did not score a run.
- Makemson went hitless ending her program-best hit streak at 22 games.
Game 2
LCU Highlights:
Turning Point:
With TAMUC scoring five unanswered runs to cut an LCU lead to 6-5, in the top of the sixth inning,
Brooke Makemson laid down a sacrifice bunt (her first of the season and third by the team this season), which led to an error and a run scoring to end the TAMUC string of runs.
How it Happened:
- LCU scored the first six runs of the game. A wild pitch and passed ball led to two runs in the first inning, and it was followed with a four-run second inning. Herrera hit a bases-loaded double to score three runs before eventually scoring on a Makemson single.
- TAMUC responded with five straight runs. Madison Schaefer and Uxua Modrego each hit two-run homers in the fifth inning to cut the deficit to a one-run game.
- Makemson's sacrifice bunt and error allowed Wysocki to score and Lee followed grounding out and getting Herrera home to push LCU's lead to 8-5.
- Alivia Villarreal hit a sacrifice fly to score Angela Donaldson in the top of the seventh for an insurance run.
Inside the Numbers:
- Maxine Valdez pitched 4.2 innings and gained the win to improve to 3-3 on the season. Taylor Franco came in for the 1.1-inning save for her second save of the season and her third of her LCU career.
- LCU's win was their first-ever win in program history when facing a top-five team on the road (1-7). It was their first win of the season against a ranked opponent (1-5).
- LCU had a sacrifice fly and sacrifice bunt in the same game for the first time this season and for the first time since May 2, 2019 against St. Mary's.
- Alivia Villarreal had her second sacrifice fly of the season and second of her LCU career.
- TAMUC went 5-for-11 in two-out at-bats leading to four two-out RBI.
- The Lions lead the all-time series 2-1.