LUBBOCK, Texas (April 30, 2022) - No.13 Lubbock Christian University closed out the regular season with a split against No.7 Angelo State, falling in the opener 10-6 before rebounding with a 9-4 win for their fourth win of the season over a Top-10 nationally ranked program (most since 2013). The Lone Star Conference split at Maner Park has LCU closes the regular season with a 37-9 record and finishing in a share of second place in the LSC with a 23-7 conference mark.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Game 1: ASU 10, LCU 6 | Game 2: LCU 9, ASU 4
Records: LCU (37-9, 23-7), ASU (38-9, 22-8)
Location: Lubbock, Texas (Maner Park)
Time of Game: Game 1: 2:11, Game 2: 2:11
Weather: Game 1: 71F Sunny (Wind 9 MPH to home), Game 2: 77F Sunny (Wind 6 MPH to home)
Game 1
LCU Highlights:
Turning Point:
Facing a run-rule deficit in the fifth inning (8-0), LCU's
Kasey Flores had a leadoff single, which was the first of three LCU singles to help score a pair of runs. LCU would end up scoring five straight runs to trail 8-5.
How it Happened:
Angelo jumped on the scoreboard first with a run in the top of the first inning and LCU looked as if they would match the run in the home half of the inning, but
Tiarra Delrosario was picked off second base (by a catcher throwdown) and took the wind out of LCU's sails. LCU would be held to one hit over the next 11 batters, while ASU would build their lead to 8-0.
A two-base error in the fourth inning allowed the Belles to go up 3-0, and they followed with a five-run fifth inning for their 8-0 lead. A two-run home run by Lindsey Evans and a three-run home run by Madison Fernandez highlighted the five-run inning.
LCU rallied with a trio of singles in the home half of the fifth inning. An error hit into by
Kamryn Gibbs resulted in two runs scoring to put LCU on the scoreboard. They followed with trio of runs in the sixth inning. Delrosario scored on a wild pitch before
Angela Donaldson and
Athena Muniz each drove in a run to cut the deficit to 8-5. LCU had the tying run at the plate in the frame, but ASU's Genesis Armendariz registered the strikeout needed to get out of the jam.
Angelo State grabbed insurance in the seventh inning with a two-run single by Bailey Martinez for a 10-5 lead.
Tyla Lee drove in a run for the Lady Chaps in the bottom of the seventh inning, but LCU would be unable to score any more.
Inside the Numbers:
- Taylor Franco suffered the loss in the circle (19-4). She went 4.1 innings and allowed six earned runs off six hits. Mattye Tyler entered in relief in the fifth inning and retired the first six batters she faced. She went 2.2 innings and allowed two runs off two hits.
- LCU posted four errors, marking the sixth time they have posted at least four errors in a game.
- The Lady Chaps fell to 8-7 when their opponents score first and 8-6 when their opponents score in the first inning.
- LCU fell to 26-2 when scoring at least six runs in a game.
- Surprisingly with 16 runs scored, the two teams were a combined 1-for-14 in the game in two-out at-bats (ASU was 0-for-7).
- Athena Muniz was 2-for-2 in at-bats with runners in scoring position.
Game 2
LCU Highlights:
Turning Point:
With the game tied 1-1 in the third inning, LCU's
Kasey Flores blasted a three-run home run to right-centerfield with two outs to give LCU a 4-1 lead.
How it Happened:
Tyla Lee walked with the bases loaded in the first inning to give LCU the first run of the game. The Belles matched the run with a solo home run from Ashlynn Box in the second inning.
In the bottom of the third inning, Flores launched a three-run home run to help LCU regain the lead (4-1). They added another run on a single by Muniz, which resulted in
Angela Donaldson scoring on an error for a 5-1 lead and completing a four-run inning. Following an unearned run by the Belles in the fourth inning, the Lady Chaps added another four-run frame in the fifth inning. Flores connected on her second home run of the game, blasting a deep two-run shot beyond the left field wall. The hit came off a payoff pitch on the ninth pitch of the at-bat. Two batters later, Muniz hit a two-run home run to put LCU up 9-2.
ASU sent eight batters to the plate in the sixth inning and scored a pair of runs, but their deficit was too much to overcome.
Inside the Numbers:
- Maxine Valdez improved to 13-3 on the season (19-7 in her career). She pitched 7.0 innings and posted her third complete game of the season (back-to-back complete game performances for her).
- Athena Muniz homered for the fifth time this season and the 13th time of her LCU career.
- Kasey Flores had her second multi-home run game of the season and the first at home (fourth multi-homer game by a Lady Chap this season). The pair of blasts has her with 17 home runs on the season, and of the 17 on the season seven have come with two outs and eight have come when LCU has either trailed or were tied at the time of the home run.
- Flores' home run total of 17 is the most by a Lady Chaps member since Sydney Beuthien hit 21 in 2017. Flores also surpasses 50 RBI (52) this season, marking the most by a Lady Chaps member since Lindzi Clemmer posted 54 RBI in 2018.
- With ASU going 0-for-7 in two-out at-bats, they completed the day 0-for-14 in two-out at-bats.
- LCU improved to 29-4 in games in which they hit a home run and 17-0 in contests in which they hit two or more home runs.
- LCU improved to 29-2 when scoring first.
- LCU improved to 15-6 at home this season.
- With the doubleheader split, LCU moved to 7-7 this season in games against NFCA Top-25 programs and they claimed their fourth win against a Top-10 program. The four wins against Top-10 programs is their highest single-season total since the 2013 season.
HISTORICAL NOTE
LCU moved to 2-9 all-time against ASU and 1-3 against the Belles at home all-time.
SENIOR DAY
Prior to the game, LCU recognized seven Lady Chaps seniors.
Savannah Wysocki,
Brooke Makemson,
Angela Donaldson,
Mattye Tyler,
Lauren Singletary,
Tyla Lee and
Athena Muniz were each recognized during a Senior Day ceremony with their families. All members of the Lady Chaps wore purple ribbons to honor James Madison University's Lauren Burnett, as they dedicated a pregame prayer to her family and members of the JMU softball program suffering from the loss of Lauren.
WHAT'S NEXT
Its tournament time for LCU, who finished the regular season in a share of second place in the LSC standings. They head to the 2022 Lone Star Conference Championships as the No.3-seed and will open the single-elimination tournament in Tyler, Texas against No.6-seed Oklahoma Christian Friday at 11 a.m.
