KINGSVILLE, Texas (March 12, 2023) – No.10 Lubbock Christian University had eight of their nine base hits with two outs, which led to all of their six runs, and the clutch hitting led to a 6-4 victory to take the rubber match of their Lone Star Conference three-game series at Texas A&M-Kingsville Sunday afternoon at Hubert Field.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: LCU 6, TAMUK 4
Records: LCU (21-8, 11-7), TAMUK (12-11, 9-6)
Location: Kingsville, Texas (Hubert Field)
Time of Game: 2:05
Weather: 85-Sunny
LCU Highlights:
Turning Point:
In the sixth inning,
Kasey Flores hit a ball deep to left-centerfield (with two outs) that the left fielder nearly made a great defensive play, but was unable to record the out. It turned into a two-run double for a 5-1 lead.
How it Happened:
LCU fell behind early after the first three batters in the bottom of the first inning each singled. TAMUK was only able to muster one run, as LCU received a line-out double play to get out of the jam trailing 1-0.
The Lady Chaps bounced back to tie the game up in the top of the second inning by taking advantage of a pair of errors with a two-out RBI-single from
Berkeley Quinn. They took their first lead of the game in the top of the fifth inning with
Hope Banales hitting a two-out double, which was followed by a
Kasey Flores walk,
Skylar Herrera and a bases-loaded two-out RBI-single by
Riley Lunsford for a 2-1 lead.
It was a similar situation in the top of the sixth inning, as LCU's first two batters of the inning were retired and the next five batters reached base safely. There were a pair of errors in the mix, but Banales had a key RBI-single and
Kasey Flores followed with a double to score a pair. LCU would eventually claim a four-run inning for a 6-1 lead.
TAMUK's miscues were contagious, as in the bottom of the sixth inning, LCU committed a pair of infield errors and there was a passed ball in the mix. It led to a trio of unearned runs scoring to cut LCU's lead to 6-4.
Maxine Valdez pitched the final inning and retired the side in order to nail down the save for the LCU win.
Inside the Numbers:
- Maxine Valdez notched her fifth career save and her second of the season. She has not allowed a run in her last 13.0 innings pitched. The five career saves ranks her tied for fifth in program history in saves.
- Ashlinn Hamilton was LCU's starting pitcher and went 4.1 innings allowing one run off five hits. She did not allow a run and allowed two hits against the final 12 batters she faced. She moved to 4-0 on the season.
- LCU was 8-for-18 (.444) in two-out at-bats. They were also 6-for-13 (.462) with runners in scoring position (TAMUK was 2-for-10).
- Kasey Flores extended her team lead in RBI to 33 and she now has a team-leading 16 two-out RBI.
- LCU had a 10-2 advantage in the series in two-out RBI, and overall this season, LCU has a 65-8 advantage in two-out RBI (opponents hitting .117 in two-out at-bats this season).
- The game ended with Maxine Valdez striking out Kayla Gonzales, who entered the series ranking sixth nationally as the hardest to strikeout. Gonzales, who had one strikeout on the season in 62 at-bats, struck out twice in the series and both were by Valdez.
- TAMUK committed five errors, which is a season high by an LCU opponent and the most since St. Mary's had six on Apr. 24, 2021.
- Hope Banales hit her team-leading 13th double (had three in the series) and it extended her hitting streak to an active team-leading six games.
- With two RBI in the game, Kasey Flores notched her 11th multi-RBI game of the season.
- LCU claimed their first win when trailing after the first inning (1-4), their second win when the opponent scores first (2-7) and when their opponent scores in the first inning (2-4).
HISTORICAL NOTE
LCU moved to 7-5 all-time against TAMUK and they are 5-2 all-time at Hubert Field. TAMUK still has the edge at 4-3 when playing as conference opponents.
WHAT'S NEXT:
The Lady Chaps return home to open a Friday night series at home hosting St. Mary's for a LSC three-game series.
