LAREDO, Texas (April 10, 2022) – Lubbock Christian University's Kasey Flores had as many home runs as Texas A&M International had hits on the day. Flores hit three home runs on the day, while LCU starting pitchers Taylor Franco (allowed two hits) and Maxine Valdez (allowed one hit) combined to allow three hits on the afternoon, as No.15 Lubbock Christian recorded a 2-0 and 13-0 win over the Dustdevils to record their first-ever series sweep in Laredo and it marked the first time in program history in which the Lady Chaparrals swept a road conference series in shutout wins. LCU also set a program single-season record with a 16^th road victory, as they are 16-1 on the road this season.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score:  Game 1: LCU 2, TAMIU 0 | Game 2: LCU 13, TAMIU 0 (Final in 5 innings)
Records: LCU (33-7, 19-5), TAMIU (34-7, 7-17)
Location: Laredo, Texas (Dustdevil Softball Field)
Time of Game: Game 1: 1:48, Game 2: 1:27
Weather: Game 1: 95F Sunny, Game 2: 95F Sunny

Game 1

LCU Highlights:

• Taylor Franco – complete game shutout, 7.0 innings, 2 hits allowed, 6 strikeouts
• Kasey Flores – 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI
• Tiarra Delrosario – 1-for-3,

Turning Point:
LCU was 0-for-5 getting the leadoff batter aboard until Tiarra Delrosario hit a single to lead off the top of the sixth inning. She turned out to be the lead run, scoring on a home run by Kasey Flores.

How it Happened:
The game was scoreless through five innings, despite a pair of LCU errors in the fourth inning, which allowed a pair of runners on base with one out, but Taylor Franco was able to pitch out of the jam. In the top of the sixth inning, Tiarra Delrosario led off with a single. Two batters later, Kasey Flores hit a two-run home run over the centerfield fence for a 2-0 lead.
 
TAMIU had a pair of hits in the first inning, but did not have any hits for the remainder of the game.
    
Inside the Numbers:

• Taylor Franco (18-2) collected the victory in the circle. Franco had her 46th complete game and 19th complete game shutout of her career (13th complete game and 8th shutout of the season), as she held TAMIU to two hits and did not allow a hit over the final 23 batters (6.2 innings of her 7.0 innings pitched).
• The win marked the first win of the season for the Lady Chaps in which they scored less than three runs.
• TAMIU was 0-for-7 in two-out at-bats.

 
Game 2

LCU Highlights:

• Maxine Valdez – Combined one-hit shutout, 4.2 innings pitched, 7 strikeouts
• Kasey Flores – 2-for-2, 2 HR, 5 RBI
• Tyla Lee – 1-for-3, Grand Slam home run, 4 RBI

Turning Point:
Kasey Flores set the pace early, hitting a three-run home run for the Lady Chaps in the first inning.  

How it Happened:
Savannah Wysocki and Tiarra Delrosario each singled to reach in the top of the first inning, and they would score on a three-run dinger by Flores. The Lady Chaps added a pair in the second inning with a two-out two-run single by Delrosario for a 5-0 advantage.
 
Flores hit her second home run of the game in the third inning with a solo shot. The inning was followed with a seven-run fifth inning for the Lady Chaps. LCU sent 13 batters to the plate in the inning, which was highlighted by a Tyla Lee grand slam. Savannah Wysocki and Athena Muniz each had an RBI-single in the frame, which had LCU with a 13-0 lead.  

Inside the Numbers:

• Maxine Valdez improved to 10-3 on the season (16-7 in her career). She pitched 4.1 innings and joined reliever Chloe Jones (strike outs for the final two outs) for a combined one-hit shutout.
• LCU hit four home runs on the afternoon, with three tallied in the game. LCU is 26-3 when hitting t least one home run.
• Tyla Lee hit her eighth home run of the season and her 15^th of her LCU career. The grand slam she hit is her second of the season (and of her LCU career), and the Lady Chaps have hit three as a team.
• Kasey Flores hit LCU's third multi-homer game of the season (first for Flores), and she hit three home runs in the doubleheader to place her with 15 home run on the season and places her with 38 career home runs. She is in the top-20 among active career home leaders in NCAA Division II. Of her 15 home runs, six have come with two outs and seven have come when LCU has either trailed or were tied at the time of the home run.
• LCU improved to 16-0 when scoring in the first inning and 26-1 when scoring first..
• LCU improved to 16-1 this season in road games. LCU's best single-season record in road games is 12-1 from 2012, and their single-season high mark for road wins is now 16, as it topped 15 road wins from 2010. Sunday was LCU's final road game scheduled, but teams can still play road games in the postseason.
• The pair of shutout results has LCU with their first pair of shutouts since Mar. 21, 2021 (swept UT Permian Basin at home). The last time they had a pair of road shutouts against the same opponent was Feb. 15, 2019 at Southwest (N.M.). LCU's pair of road shutouts to sweep a road series in conference is program first.
• The game closed out an eight-game road trip in which LCU went 7-1. Angela Donaldson hit .480 on the swing, and Kasey Flores led LCU with six home runs and 13 RBI in the eight games.

 
HISTORICAL NOTE
LCU moved to 21-9 all-time against Texas A&M International and they are now 8-5 all-time in Laredo, Texas. LCU had not swept a road series in Laredo prior to Sunday.
 
WHAT'S NEXT:
The Lady Chaps return home, but they do not play at home until hosting St. Mary's Apr. 22. They play their final six regular season games at home.