LUBBOCK, Texas (February 18, 2023) – Six runs over the last three innings allowed No.2 UT Tyler to complete a three-game Lone Star Conference sweep, as they topped No.8 Lubbock Christian University 7-5 in a contest in which LCU stranded 13 runners.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: UTT 7, LCU 5
Records: LCU (10-4, 0-3), UTT (10-1, 3-0)
Location: Lubbock, Texas (Maner Park)
Time of Game: 2:35
Weather: 46-Partly Cloudy/Windy (Gusts to 28 MPH to LF)
LCU Highlights:
Turning Point:
In the bottom of the fourth, sixth and seventh innings, LCU left the bases loaded. LCU was 0-for-3 in at-bats with the bases loaded.
How it Happened:
LCU opened the game with a three-run bottom of the first inning. Facing pitcher Tatum Goff, who held LCU to one hit 24 hours prior, LCU had back-to-back home runs from
Kasey Flores and
Hope Banales to account for the three-runs. A two-out single by Taryn Barney put UTT on the scoreboard in the second inning, but LCU got the run back in the bottom of the third inning, as
Riley Flores beat out a throw at first base for a two-out RBI-infield single.
Momentum started to shift in the fifth inning. LCU pitcher
Taylor Franco had retired five consecutive Patriot batters, but started to falter with command in the fifth inning. Barney and Tara Stewart led off with singles and JT Smith became the first of four walks issued in the game by Franco (had not surrendered a walk for the opening 4.1 innings of the game). The Patriots had a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning, but in the sixth inning, Avery Farr followed a leadoff walk with a two-run home run to centerfield to tie the game 5-5. Another leadoff walk in the seventh inning was followed by a single in the seventh inning and Franco's outing ended with
Maxine Valdez replacing her. Valdez' first six pitches missed the strikezone, which included a pair of wild pitches. One that caromed off the backstop and down the first base line, which allowed two runs to score for a 7-4 lead. After walking the first batter she faced, Valdez regrouped to retire the next three batters faced (striking out two of them).
LCU had their chances to rally. Former All-Big 12 and Texas transfer Shea O'Leary started to lose her command as well late in the game. O'Leary, who pitched the final 4.1 innings in relief, walked three batters in the bottom of the seventh inning. Delrosario and
Skylar Herrera were each walked with two outs and Herrera's walk came with the bases loaded and sent
Kasey Flores to the plate. Flores, who was unintentionally intentionally walked her prior two at-bats had a pitch to work with, but hit into a 6-3 groundout to end the game.
Inside the Numbers:
- Taylor Franco fell to 3-3 on the season and all three losses are to nationally ranked teams.
- LCU's 0-3 conference start is a rarity. The last time LCU opened their conference slate was 2014, as they opened Heartland Conference play falling in all three games to St. Mary's. They rebounded to go 19-1 the rest of the way in conference during that 2014 season.
- Kasey Flores has eight multi-RBI games of 13 games played on the season. Flores finished with five RBI in the series.
- LCU fell despite an 11-8 advantage in hits.
- UTT's JT Smith went 6-for-8 in the series.
- Tiarra Delrosario was 4-for-10 from the plate in the series for LCU.
HISTORICAL NOTE
UTT improved their all-time record to 7-3 against LCU, extending their win steak in the series to five games. The Patriots are also 4-1 against LCU in Lubbock.
WHAT'S NEXT:
The Lady Chaps hit the road for the first time Tuesday, opening a LSC three-game series at Midwestern State. First pitch Tuesday in Wichita Falls, Texas is scheduled for 6 p.m.
