LUBBOCK Texas (March 17, 2023) – For a second consecutive home double-header, a no-hitter was completed by a Lubbock Christian University pitcher. Friday, Maxine Valdez, completed the honor for the second time this season and the fourth in her career, as she helped No.11 LCU to an 11-1 win in five innings over St. Mary's. The game completed the Lone Star Conference doubleheader sweep, as LCU opened the day with a 4-3 walkoff win in 10 innings at Maner Park.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Game 1: LCU 4, StMU 3 (10 inn.) / Game 2: LCU 11, StMU 1 (5 inn.)
Records: LCU (23-8, 13-7), StMU (20-10, 10-7)
Location: Lubbock, Texas (Maner Park)
Time of Game: Game 1: 2:50 / Game 2: 1:30
Weather: Game: 41-Partly Cloudy, W-8mph to 1B / 47-Partly Cloudy, W-3mph to 1B

GAME 1
 
LCU Highlights:

• Kasey Flores – 1-for-3, 2 RBI, HR
• Tiarra Delrosario – 3-for-4, 2 runs
• Skylar Herrera – 2-for-5, 1 RBI

Turning Point:
Kasey Flores' leadoff home run in the sixth inning tied the contest.

How it Happened:
StMU scratched a pair of runs across home plate in the top of the first inning. A double steal allowed Lauren Gonzales to score from third base for the first run, and the Rattlers followed with a two-out single through the right side of the infield by Lauren Garcia.
 
LCU answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the first inning. The Lady Chaps first four batters reached safely, with Kasey Flores walking with the bases loaded for LCU's first run. A fielder's choice and error at home plate tied the game at 2-2.
 
The Lady Chaps returned the run in the top of the fifth inning, as a two-out error allowed the Rattlers to regain the lead at 3-2. Flores tied the game in the bottom half of the sixth inning with a leadoff solo home run.
 
The game went into extra innings and St. Mary's had the bases loaded in the eighth and ninth inning, but was unable to score. It turned out to hurt the Rattlers, as in the bottom of the 10^th inning, Tierra Delrosario led off with a single and eventually scored the game-winning run off a Skylar Herrera walk-off single to right field.

Inside the Numbers:

• Taylor Franco threw 184 pitches and went all 10.0 innings in the circle for LCU (12^th complete game of the season and 62^nd of her career), as she improved to 9-6 on the season (65^th career win). She surpassed 100 strikeouts on the season, as she had nine in the game for 107 on the season (526 in her career). She allowed three runs (two earned) off eight hits. She forced StMU into 18 groundouts.
• Skylar Herrera had her second extra-inning walkoff of the season. She had one on Feb. 25 in the 8^th inning of a 1-0 win over Texas Woman's.
• LCU improved to 4-2 in one-run games, while StMU fell to 1-4 this season in one-run contests.
• Kasey Flores extended her team-lead in multi-RBI games, as she recorded her 12^th game of multiple RBI this season. In doing so, she hit her team-leading ninth home run of the season, which is the 49^th of her NCAA career.
• LCU is now 2-0 in extra-inning contests.
• Riley Flores had six fielding assists, which ties her season (and career) high and matches the most by a Lady Chap this season.
• LCU improved to 3-4 when the opposition scores in the first inning and 12-1 when they score in the first inning. They also improved to 3-7 when the opposition scores first.
• The teams combined for 20 runners stranded, with StMU stranding 11.

 
GAME 2
 
LCU Highlights:

• Maxine Valdez – 5.0 innings, no hits allowed and struck out nine batters
• Kamryn Gibbs – 1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI
• Sydney Bowlin – 2-for-2, 2 RBI, 2 runs

Turning Point:
Nine batters came to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, as LCU scored nine runs in the inning.

How it Happened:
After a scoreless two innings, the scoring stared in the third inning with St. Mary's scoring first. As Kaylynne Ruiz walked, the Rattlers used Abigail Dela Rosa to run for Ruiz. Dela Rosa stole second and advanced to third base on a wild pitch before Ericka Gomez scored her on a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead.
 
LCU took the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Berkeley Quinn hit a ball past left fielder Lauren Gonzales, who was attempting a sliding catch on the line drive, resulting in a RBI-double. Hope Banales followed with a sacrifice fly RBI for a 2-1 lead.
 
LCU exploded for nine runs in the fourth inning and all nine runs came with two outs, as LCU sent nine batters to the plate with two outs. Sydnee Bowlin and Skylar Herrera each drove in two runs with their hits, and the highlight of the inning was a three-run home run by Kamryn Gibbs for an 11-1 lead.

Inside the Numbers:

• Maxine Valdez notched her fourth career no-hitter and second of the season. She improved to 9-2 on the season (28-11 in her career), as she pitched her eighth complete game of the season and 15^th of her career. She struck out nine batters and now has 78 strikeouts in 57.2 innings this season.
• Kamryn Gibbs bashed her fourth home run of the season and her 11^th of her LCU career. She finished with three RBI and has 11 of her 13 RBI on the season tallied over the past eight games.
• Kasey Flores had her team-leading 13^th multi-RBI game of the season, as she had two RBI off a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.
• Sydnee Bowlin went 2-for-2 for her seventh multi-hit game of the season. Berkeley Quinn (2-for-3) had her second multi-hit game and Flores matched the team lead with her 11^th multi-hit game.
• LCU is now 14-2 when errorless and they are 4-3 when the opponents don't commit an error.
• The Lady Chaps were 7-for-9 in two-out at-bats, with Kasey Flores going 2-for-2 with two-outs. LCU also was 6-for-10 in at-bats with runners in scoring position.

HISTORICAL NOTE
The no-hitter was LCU's fourth no-hitter this season (Maxine Valdez and Taylor Franco each have two) and Friday's was the 27th in program history (LCU had five last season). It was LCU's first no-hitter against StMU. LCU moved to 20-21 all-time against StMU and they are 12-5 all-time at Maner Park.
 
List of LCU No-Hitters
1. 2/13/08 - vs. University of the Southwest (Marissa Gonzalez)
2. 3/5/08 - vs. UT-Permian Basin (Marissa Gonzalez)
3. 3/19/08 - vs. Dordt College (Marissa Gonzalez)
4. 5/17/09 - vs. Shorter College (Alyssa Gutierrez)
5. 2/20/10 - vs. Northwestern Oklahoma St. University (Alyssa Gutierrez)
6. 4/19/10 - vs. Oklahoma Baptist University (Alyssa Gutierrez)
7. 4/12/11 - vs. University of the Southwest (Meagan Navarrette / Carollin Hall)
8. 4/12/11 - vs. University of the Southwest (Alyssa Freight / Amanda Longorio)
9. 3/16/12 - vs. Waldorf College (Sarah Mendez)
10. 4/1/12 - vs. Oklahoma Baptist University (Sarah Mendez)
11. 2/9/13 - vs. University of the Southwest (Katera Eltosie)
12. 2/16/13 - vs. Graceland University (Katera Eltosie)
13. 3/12/13 - vs. Mount Marty College (Tori Bayer)
14. 2/20/16 - vs. Clarke University (Katlyn Homes)
15. 3/21/17 - vs. Eastern New Mexico University (Katlyn Homes)
16. 2/20/18 - vs. St. Edward's University (Monique Francois)
17. 2/15/19 - vs. University of the Southwest (Taylor Franco)
18. 3/22/21 - vs. UT-Permian Basin (Maxine Valdez)
19. 2/10/22 - vs. Oklahoma Baptist (Taylor Franco)
20. 2/12/22 - vs. Northwestern Oklahoma State (Taylor Franco)
21. 3/20/22 - vs. UT-Permian Basin (Taylor Franco)
22. 3/27/22 - vs. No.1 UT Tyler (Taylor Franco)
23. 4/1/22 - vs. Texas Woman's (Maxine Valdez)
24. 2/11/23 - vs. Chadron State (Maxine Valdez)
25. 2/12/23 - vs. Minot State (Taylor Franco)
26. 3/8/23 - vs. Eastern New Mexico (Taylor Franco)
27. 3/17/23 - vs. St. Mary's (Maxine Valdez)

WHAT'S NEXT:
The Lady Chaps remain home Saturday to host St. Mary's to complete their LSC three-game series. First-pitch is scheduled for noon at Maner Park.