GULF SHORES, Ala. (February 5, 2022) – Opening their program's 15th season, Lubbock Christian University dropped a season opener for the first time ever, falling 5-4 in a walkoff loss to West Alabama. LCU was unable to rebound against No.14 Auburn Montgomery, dropping an 8-4 decision in nine innings to open the 2022 campaign 0-2.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Game 1: West Alabama 5, LCU 4 | Game 2: No.14 Auburn Montgomery 8, LCU 4 (9 inn.)
Records: LCU (0-2), WMU (1-0), AUM (2-0)
Location: Gulf Shores, Ala. (Sportsplex)
Time of Game: Game 1: 2:15 | Game 2: 3:00
Weather: Game 1: 37-Fair/Brisk | Game 2: 47-Fair/Windy
Game vs. West Alabama
LCU Highlights:
Turning Point:
As LCU led 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning, UWA's Kelsie Gilliam reached on a leadoff infield single. LCU's
Maxine Valdez came out of the bullpen in a save situation, but back-to-back walks set the stage for the Tigers to claim the walk-off win.
How it Happened:
The Tigers struck first in the top of the first inning. They produced a trio of singles, with singles by Grace Self and Kacy Noland each produced with two outs. Noland's scored a pair for a 2-0 UWA lead.
Kendall Johnson led off the top of the second inning reaching on a hit-by-pitch and it led to a manufactured run without the Tigers producing a hit in the inning, and Johnson scoring off a Gilliam ground out gave UWA a 3-0 lead.
The Lady Chaps rallied from the deficit with a two-run fourth and fifth inning, and all four runs were tallied with two outs.
Savannah Wysocki crushed a pitch to centerfield and the one-hopper to the fence scored a pair of runs. In the fifth inning,
Athena Muniz hit a high fly ball that was dropped by the right fielder, which resulted in
Berkeley Quinn scoring. LCU took a 4-3 lead on an infield error hit into by
Caroline Chilton.
UWA rallied back in the seventh inning, as LCU was unable to record an out and sent five batters to the plate. Gilliam led off with an infield single and a pair of walks followed to load the bases.
Taylor Franco, who started in the circle for LCU, was replaced after the leadoff single, but returned after a pair of walks were issued. Lexy House and Hannah Mynard followed with singles, with Mynard's resulting in the walkoff win.
Inside the Numbers:
- Pitcher Taylor Franco went 6.0 innings and allowed four runs off nine hits. She struck out five batters in the no-decision.
- LCU was 1-for-10 with runners on scoring position. The lone hit was by Savannah Wysocki.
- The Tigers hit into 11 ground outs, while flying out once in the game.
- West Alabama was 3-for-3 in at-bats with the bases loaded in the game.
- The meeting was the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
- The Lady Chaps loss dropped them to 14-1 all-time in season openers, as the loss marked their first loss in a season opener.
Game vs. Auburn Montgomery
LCU Highlights:
- Kasey Flores was 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI.
- Tyla Lee was 3-for-4 with a double and a RBI.
- Maxine Valdez allowed one earned runs over 5.1 innings in the circle and struck out five batters.
Turning Point:
With the winning run at second base in the bottom of the seventh inning and nobody out, AUM pitcher Morgan Ferguson struck out the side to force a ninth inning.
How it Happened:
After four innings of scoreless play, LCU loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth inning with nobody out. The Warhawks recorded a pair of outs without LCU scoring, but Flores came through for the Lady Chaps with a two-run double to centerfield.
LCU did not hold the lead long, as they committed three errors in the top of the sixth inning. Two errors setup a two-run triple by Gia Martin, which tied the game at 2-2. A sacrifice fly and a third error in the inning allowed the Warhawks to take a 4-2 lead.
The Lady Chaps led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a pair of walks and scored a run on an errant throw while
Kamryn Gibbs was beating out a bunt. Flores hit a double in the bottom of the seventh inning, which was followed by singles from
Athena Muniz and
Tyla Lee to tie the game at 4-4.
Neither team was able to capitalize in the eighth inning, with international tie breaking rules active, which led to a ninth inning. The Warhawks capitalized in the ninth inning, with five consecutive batters reaching base. Following a Shelby Edgeworth RBI-double, LCU issued three consecutive walks, which led to a four-run ninth inning for AUM. LCU was retired in order in the ninth.
Inside the Numbers:
- LCU went through four pitchers. Valdez went 5.1 innings before Taylor Franco, Chloe Jones and Mattye Tyler made relief outings. Jones, making her collegiate debut, suffered the loss (0-1), pitching 1.1 innings in relief.
- The Lady Chaps stranded 14 runners in the game.
- UAM was 6-for-6 scoring a runner from third base with less than two outs, while LCU was 1-for-6 in the same category.
- Seven of the final eight batters for LCU struck out. LCU had 12 strikeouts at the plate in the game.
- LCU moved to 1-1 all-time against UAM, as the two programs were meeting for the first time since Mar. 6, 2009.
Up Next:
LCU completes their opening weekend Sunday facing Montevallo at 11:15 a.m. and West Georgia at 1:30 p.m. in Gulf Shores.
