KINGSVILLE, Texas (April 8, 2022) – A two-out two-run go-ahead single by Brooke Makemson in the fifth inning of the second game of a Lone Star Conference doubleheader helped No.15 Lubbock Christian University claim their third victory of the season over a top-10 nationally ranked program, as the Lady Chaps defeated No.7 Texas A&M-Kingsville 4-3 to rebound from a 5-1 loss to split the road series.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score:  Game 1: TAMUK 5, LCU 1 | Game 2: LCU 4, TAMUK 3
Records: LCU (31-7, 17-5), TAMUK (34-7, 16-6)
Location: Kingsville, Texas (Huber Field)
Time of Game: Game 1: 1:41, Game 2: 2:00
Weather: Game 1: 82F Sunny, Game 2: 81F Sunny
 
Game 1

LCU Highlights:

• Tyla Lee – 2-for-3, RBI
• Brooke Makemson – 1-for-3, Run
• Tiarra Delrosario – 1-for-3,

Turning Point:
A trio of LCU errors and a trio of TAMUK hits in the third inning led to a four-run inning for TAMUK.

How it Happened:
A leadoff walk to Loren Kelly came back to haunt the Lady Chaps in the first inning, as Kelly eventually scored on a groundout for a 1-0 TAMUK lead. Kelly led off the third inning with a single and it was the start of three straight hits by the Javelinas, which was capped by a RBI-double from Kayla Gonzales. LCU had three errors in the frame and the Javelinas scored four runs to extend the lead to 5-0.
 
The Lady Chaps had an opportunity to score in the sixth inning after Tyla Lee led off the inning with a single. Tiarra Delrosario attempted to score Riley Lunsford (running for Lee) on a sacrifice fly, but Lunsford was thrown out at home. In the seventh inning, Lee singled in Brooke Makemson with the bases loaded. Caroline Chilton was thrown out at third base on the play and it was the third out as Kasey Flores was a foot from touching home on the timing play, so the score ended with a 5-1 final.
    
Inside the Numbers:

• Taylor Franco (17-2) suffered just her second loss of the season. Franco did go the distance, allowed three earned runs off five hits in 6.0 innings, and the complete game was her 12^th of the season and 46^th of her career.
• The game was the third game this season in which LCU did not have an extra-base hit (they moved to 6-4 when not hitting a home run). Both teams combined for one extra-base hit (double).
• Tyla Lee had LCU's only multi-hit performance in the game. She leads LCU with 16 on the season.
• LCU matched a season-high total in errors with four, and it has happened for a fourth time this season. Three of LCU's seven losses on the season have come when committing four errors.
• The Lady Chaps were 4-for-7 getting the leadoff batter aboard and TAMUK was 2-for-6, but once runners were aboard, each team struggled at the plate. LCU was 1-for-11 with runners on base, while TAMUK was 2-for-10.

 
Game 2

LCU Highlights:

• Brooke Makemson – 2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI
• Kasey Flores – 1-for-3, 2B
• Maxine Valdez – Win, CG (7.0 innings), 2 earned runs off 4 hits, 5 strikeouts

Turning Point:
With two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the fifth inning, LCU capped a three-run inning with a go-ahead single hit by Brooke Makemson, which plated two runs and helped LCU overcome a 3-1 deficit to take a 4-3 lead.  

How it Happened:
LCU was able to get on the scoreboard first following back-to-back two-out doubles from Brooke Makemson and Kasey Flores for a 1-0 lead. The Lady Chaps lead would not hold long, as three walked batters and an error allowed the Javelinas to tie the game 1-1 in the home half of the first inning.
 
The Lady Chaps would go hitless over a 10-batter span, while TAMUK would take their first lead of the game with a two-run home run by Jennifer Giesey in the fourth inning for a 3-1 lead.
 
Angela Donaldson led off the fifth inning with a single, with Caroline Chilton (double) and Tyla Lee (reached on fielder's choice and everyone safe) following reaching base to load the bases (with no outs). Athena Muniz produced a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 3-2. A fielder's choice followed and TAMUK kept a run from scoring, but following a walk to Tiarra Delrosario (loaded the bases), Brooke Makemson hit a two-run single to regain the lead for LCU (4-3). Once allowing the home run to Giesey in the fourth inning, Lady Chaps starting pitcher Maxine Valdez did not allow a hit to the final 12 batters she faced for the remaining 3.2 innings of the game.

Inside the Numbers:

• Maxine Valdez improved to 9-3 on the season. She pitched her third complete game of the season and the fourth of her career. Valdez allowed two earned runs off four hits and struck out five batters.
• LCU improved to 8-1 on the season in one-run results.
• Brooke Makemson's two hits helped extend her hit streak to 10 games (actively leads team) and she has also reached base safely in 16 consecutive games (actively leads team). With two RBI, Makemson notched her team-leading 12^th multi-RBI game of the season.
• Athena Muniz's pinch hit sacrifice fly places her with three sacrifice flies on the season and she has eight in her LCU career.
• LCU improved to 15-0 when scoring in the first inning and 24-1 when scoring first.
• The Lady Chaps improved to 7-4 in games they do not hit a home run and 4-4 when trailing after four innings.
• LCU improved to 14-1 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 15 road wins from 2010.
• The Lady Chaps have now won three games against top-10 nationally ranked teams this season and are 6-6 against Top-25 programs this season. Four of the wins have been away from home.

 
HISTORICAL NOTE
LCU moved to 5-4 all-time against Texas A&M-Kingsville and they are now 3-1 all-time in Kingsville, Texas.
 
WHAT'S NEXT:
The Lady Chaps head to Laredo, Texas Sunday for a noon doubleheader start against Texas A&M International.