LUBBOCK, Texas (February 3, 2023) – The No.21 Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals opened the 2023 season splitting a pair of games in the Lubbock Sports College Classic. LCU dropped their first home opener in program history, falling 2-0 to No.22 Washburn, but rebounded with a 9-4 win over Colo. Colorado Springs (UCCS) Friday at Maner Park.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Game 1: No.22 WU 2, No.21 LCU 0 | Game 2: No.21 LCU 9, UCCS 4
Records: LCU (1-1), WU (1-1), UCCS (0-2)
Location: Lubbock, Texas (Maner Park)
Time of Game: Game 1: 1:45, Game 2: 1:45
Weather: Game 1: 45F Sunny (Wind 5 MPH to LF), Game 2: 54F Sunny (Wind 9 MPH to LF)

Game 1

LCU Highlights:

• Taylor Franco – complete game (7.0 inn.), 0 ER, 7 K's
• Victoria Owens - 1-for-3, 4 assists
• Skylar Herrera - 1-for-3, SB

Turning Point:
A two-out error allowed an unearned run to score for Washburn in the second inning, which put LCU behind early.

How it Happened:
LCU lost despite allowing just three hits (all singles), as Washburn scored a pair of unearned runs. In the second inning, Jaden LaBarge reached on an infield single and eventually scored with two outs, as Autymn Schreiner hit into an error to put WU up 1-0. In the third inning, Ellington Hogle reached on a walk and advanced on a passed ball to get into scoring position. She scored on Paige Robbins' chopper with one out.

Inside the Numbers:

• Taylor Franco suffered the loss in the circle (0-1) despite striking out seven batters and allowing three hits. Franco had her 51^st complete game of the season.
• LCU dropped to 15-1 in home openers and 14-2 in season openers. The Lady Chaps have dropped two consecutive season openers.
• LCU had two at-bats with runners in scoring position.
• Hope Banales, Hayden Brown and Victoria Owens each made their LCU debut and doing so in the starting lineup. Owens had a single in her first bat as a Lady Chap.

 
HISTORICAL NOTE
The win was the first for WU against LCU all-time, as the two teams are now 1-1 head-to-head all-time and both meetings have been in Lubbock.

Game 2 

LCU Highlights:

• Amanda Valdiviezo - 2-for-3, 2B, HR, 3 RBI
• Maxine Valdez – 4.0 innings, 5 K's, 0 runs, 2 hits
• Hayden Brown - 2-for-2, 2 RBI

Turning Point:
LCU opened the game with four extra-base hits in the first inning, which included a two-run by Amanda Valdiviezo to cap a six-run inning.

How it Happened:
The first six batters for LCU reached base safely in the first inning. Skylar Herrera, Hope Banales and Hayden Brown each doubled in the in the six-run first inning. The score remained 6-0 until a two-out RBI-single by Lexi Wagner put UCCS on the scoreboard. Kasey Flores opened the bottom of the fifth inning with a leadoff home run to open the scoring of a two-run inning to help LCU go up 8-1 (Valdiviezo hit a two-out double in the inning). Flores capped a two-RBI performance in the sixth inning with a RBI-single to score Kamryn Gibbs, who reached on a double.

Inside the Numbers:

• Maxine Valdez struck out five batters and allowed two hits in 4.0 innings of work to claim the win (1-0).
• Freshman Amanda Valdiviezo had quite a debut for LCU. In her first collegiate at-bat, she hit a two-run home run over the left field fence. She had a pair of extra-base hits and was 2-for-2 when batting with two outs.
• Hayden Brown went 2-for-2 to cap a three-hit afternoon.
• Kasey Flores hit a solo home run to lead off the fifth inning. Her home run was her 41^st of her career, which began at UTEP for the second-year Lady Chaps member.

HISTORICAL NOTE
LCU moved to 5-1 all-time against UCCS and 4-0 all-time against the Mountain Lions in Lubbock.

WHAT'S NEXT:
The Lady Chaps remains home Saturday and will host Newman and Nebraska Kearney beginning at 1 p.m. at Maner Park.