LUBBOCK, Texas (April 22, 2022) – No.14 Lubbock Christian University, hosting St. Mary's for the first games since renaming their home ballpark Maner Park, reached the 20-win mark in conference wins for the first time since 2013 and the sixth time in program history, as the Lady Chaparrals rebounded from a 3-1 loss with an 8-4 win to split a Lone Star Conference doubleheader against St. Mary's Friday afternoon.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Game 1: StMU 3, LCU 1 | Game 2: LCU 8, StMU 4
Records: LCU (33-8, 20-6), StMU (33-13, 17-8)
Location: Lubbock, Texas (Maner Park)
Time of Game: Game 1: 1:42, Game 2: 1:47
Weather: Game 1: 82F Blowing Dust (Wind 28 MPH to LF), Game 2: 85F Blowing Dust (Wind 26 MPH to LF)
Game 1
LCU Highlights:
Turning Point:
Three inning-ending double plays turned by the Rattlers nullified a trio of LCU rallies.
How it Happened:
LCU opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning with a leadoff home run by
Skylar Herrera. The Lady Chaps would have three hits in the inning, but would be held to three singles for the remainder of the game.
StMU starting pitcher Jadyn Abrego went a stretch of holding LCU to one hit over a 12-batter stretch. Meanwhile the Rattlers took a lead after an error and a couple of infield miscues led to Abigail Carney collecting a RBI on a fielder's choice to tie the game in the fourth inning. LCU had two more errors in the sixth inning, with a bunt single by Bari Christian followed by an error on a fielder's choice resulting in a 3-1 StMU lead.
In the seventh inning, LCU had the tying run at the plate (
Kamryn Gibbs), but the Rattlers turned their third double play of the game and extinguished the rally to end the game.
Inside the Numbers:
- Taylor Franco suffered the loss in the circle (18-3) collected the victory in the circle. Franco had her 47th complete game and 19th complete game shutout of her career (14th complete game of the season), as she held the Rattlers to one earned run off five hits in 7.0 innings. She forced StMU to 14 groundouts.
- The loss was LCU's second of the season when scoring first, as they drop to 26-2 this season when scoring first.
- StMU was 2-for-13 with runners on base, and LCU was 1-for-10 with runners on base.
- Skylar Herrera's home run marked her 11th of the season and 23rd of her LCU career.
- LCU produced a season-high five errors in the game. It marks their fifth game of at least four errors this season (never had more than three in a game last season).
Game 2
LCU Highlights:
Turning Point:
In the top of the fifth inning, the Rattlers had the tying run at second base (trailing 4-3) and LCU went with
Taylor Franco in relief from the bullpen. She forced Jayme Johnson into a liner towards shortstop
Brooke Makemson, who was able to snag the liner for the third out. In the bottom half of the inning,
Tiarra Delrosario and Makemson led off the frame with singles and LCU was able to eventually load the bases and scored a trio of runs.
How it Happened:
StMU jumped on the scoreboard first after leading off the game with singles from Cassidy Mageors and Victoria Aldridge, which was aided by an infield error for a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
Angela Donaldson provided LCU the lead in the second inning with a two-run home run, and the lead lasted until Jayme Johns led off the fourth inning with a double and eventually scored on an infield error to tie the game 2-2.
Athena Muniz regained the LCU lead with a two-run two-out line-drive home run over the centerfield wall for a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Tiffany Licon hit a solo shot in the fifth inning to cut the Rattlers deficit to 4-3. The Rattlers had the tying run in scoring position, but Johns liner to the left side of the infield was snagged by a diving Makemson at short stop.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Delrosario and Makemson led off with singles and
Kasey Flores walked to load the bases.
Tyla Lee was hit-by-pitch for an RBI and
Skylar Herrera singled in another run with a ball hit to left field for a 6-3 lead. Donaldson grounded out for a RBI to cap the scoring and providing the Lady Chaps a 7-3 advantage.
Makemson closed the scoring for LCU with a ground-rule-double to score
Savannah Wysocki, who had reached on a double. StMU had three hits in the seventh inning, but an 8-2-putout assisted by Wysocki helped limit the scoring to one run by the Rattlers.
Inside the Numbers:
- Maxine Valdez improved to 11-3 on the season (17-7 in her career). She pitched 4.2 innings and allowed two earned runs while striking out five batters and holding the Rattlers to four hits.
- Taylor Franco had her third save of the season and the save has her with seven in her career, which moves her into a three-way share of second on LCU's career saves leader list. She joins Amanda Longorio and Kaitlyn Holmes with seven saves. The all-time leader in program history is Katera Eltsosie, who notched 13 from 2013-2017.
- LCU hit three home runs on the afternoon, with two tallied in the second game. LCU is 27-4 when hitting at least one home run.
- Angela Donaldson's home run was her first at home this season and second overall on the season (The blast was her 13th career home run as a Lady Chap).
- Athena Muniz went deep for a fourth time this season, and the two-out home run was her 12th in her LCU career.
- LCU improved to 8-5 when surrendering a run in the first inning and 8-6 when their opponent scores first.
- LCU improved to 12-5 at home this season.
- The win marked LCU's 20th conference win, which is LCU's first 20-conference win season since 2013. LCU's single-season wins mark for conference wins is 29 from the 2010 season. This season marks LCU's sixth season with at least 20 conference wins.
HISTORICAL NOTE
LCU moved to 18-21 all-time against StMU and 10-5 against the Rattlers at home all-time..
WHAT'S NEXT:
The Lady Chaps remain home Sunday and will host St. Edward's for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Maner Park on the LCU campus.
