SAN ANGELO, Texas (April 15, 2023) – No.10 Lubbock Christian University needed eight innings in each game of a doubleheader sweep Saturday at Mayer Field, as the Lady Chaparrals topped Angelo State 3-2 and 8-7 in extra innings to open a three-game Lone Star Conference series.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Game 1: LCU 3 – ASU 2 (8 inn.), Game 2: LCU 8 – ASU 7 (8 inn.)
Records: LCU (36-10, 26-9), ASU (28-21, 20-18)
Location: San Angelo, Texas (Mayer Field)
Time of Game: Game: 2:30, Game 2 2:30
Weather: 85-Sunny, Wind to 10 to LF

GAME 1

LCU Highlights:

• Tiarra Delrosario – 3-for-5, RBI, 2B
• Hope Banales – 2-for-5, 2 RBI, 2B
• Kamryn Gibbs – 2-for-3,

Turning Point:
Tiarra Delrosario's double to left field with two outs scored Kamryn Gibbs to tie the game in the top of the sixth inning.  

How it Happened:
The game was scoreless until a leadoff walk in the top of the fifth inning (to Bekeley Quinn) led to an RBI-double by Hope Banales for a 1-0 LCU lead. ASU countered in the bottom half of the fifth inning, by taking advantage of five walks. The Belles scored two runs without a hit, but left the bases loaded to lead 2-1 through five innings of play.
 
In the top of the sixth inning, Kamryn Gibbs led off the inning with a single and scored with two outs, as Delrosario hit a double deep to the left-centerfield gap to tie the game at 2-2. A pair of walks led-off the top of the eighth inning, as Gibbs and Sydnee Bowlin each reached on free passes. With two outs, Banales had a RBI-single to score Bowlin for a 3-2 lead. In the bottom of the inning, LCU pitcher Taylor Franco claimed the complete game by retiring the Belles in order.  

Inside the Numbers:

• Taylor Franco pitched her 18^th complete game of the season (68^th of her LCU career), as she improved to 15-7 on the season (71-31 in her career). She matched a career high (third time) with seven walks, but although five were in the fifth inning, she did not allow a walk to the final 12 batters faced. She allowed two runs off three hits, marking the 12^th time this season in which Franco tossed a complete game while holding the opposition to three hits or less.
• The win was LCU's sixth game in San Angelo (against ASU) and it marked their first-ever win over the Belles in San Angelo.
• Tiarra Delrosario had her team-leading 15^th multi-hit game. Her double in the sixth inning marked her 12^th career hit against ASU and it was her first for extra bases (of the 12) and the first resulting in a RBI.
• The Lady Chaps moved to 29-1 when scoring first. They also moved to 9-7 when not hitting a home run.
• LCU is now 2-8 when trailing after five inning.

 
GAME 2

LCU Highlights:

• Hope Banales – 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI
• Skylar Herrera – 1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI
• Maxine Valdez – complete game (8.0 innings), 14 strikeouts

Turning Point:
Berkeley Quinn's leadoff infield single in the top of the eighth inning led to her scoring the go-ahead run.  

How it Happened:
Quinn was hit by a pitch to open the game and Tiarra Delrosario followed with a base hit. With the bases loaded, Skylar Herrera was hit-by-pitch for an RBI. Victoria Owens followed with a sacrifice fly RBI for a 2-0 lead.
 
A two-run home run by Angelo State's Bailey Martinez tied the game. Trailing 3-2 in the top of the fifth inning, LCU exploded for a five-run frame. Hope Banales and Herrera each had a two-run home run and Kamryn Gibbs followed a Riley Flores double with an RBI to complete the five-run frame for a 7-3 lead.
 
ASU answered with Keilei Garcia (sixth inning) and Lindsey Evans (seventh inning) each going deep with two-run home runs to tie the game at 7-7. In the top if the eighth inning, Quinn led off with an infield single and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. She eventually scored on a groundout-RBI by Banales. ASU was able to get the tying run to third base in the bottom of the eighth inning, but LCU pitcher Maxine Valdez completed the complete-game effort by snagging a line drive for the third out.

Inside the Numbers:

• Maxine Valdez improved to 15-2 on the season (34-11 in her LCU career), as she claimed her 11^th complete game of the season (18^th of career). She posted a career-high 14 strikeouts, which is the highest individual total by a Lady Chaps member since Taylor Franco had 14 strikeouts against Newman on Mar. 16, 2019.
• Hope Banales connected on her seventh home run of the season, which led to a 5-RBI afternoon. Banales had her 15^th multi-hit game to match Tiarra Delrosario for the team lead.
• Skylar Herrera produced her sixth home run of the season and 29^th of her LCU career.
• Victoria Owens sacrifice fly was LCU's 14^th of the season and her second of the season.
• LCU moved to 18-1 when scoring in the first inning, 6-6 when the opponent scores in the first inning and 30-1 when scoring first.
• The Lady Chaps also moved to 27-3 when hitting at least one home run in the game.
• LCU won for the first time this season (1-2) when the opponent hit at least two home runs in a game. The home run ASU hit in the first inning was LCU's first allowed over-the-fence home run since Mar. 3 at Oklahoma Christian (span of 23 games).
• Both teams struggled with runners in scoring position, as LCU was 1-for-11 and ASU was 2-for-9.
• With runners at third base and less than two outs, LCU was 3-for-3 on getting the run across, while ASU was 0-for-4.
• Kasey Flores was walked four times on the day and has reached base safely in 19^th straight games, which is the highest mark by a Lady Chaps member this season. Hope Banales and Berkeley Quinn are actively co-leading LCU with hits in three consecutive games.
• The extra-inning results placed LCU 5-0 this season in extra-inning affairs and they have won six consecutive extra-inning games overall.

HISTORICAL NOTE
LCU is now 5-9 all-time against ASU and have won the prior four meetings. The wins were the first in San Angelo against ASU, which has them 2-5 all-time in the Concho Valley against ASU.

WHAT'S NEXT:
The Lady Chaps close out their series against Angelo State Sunday in San Angelo, Texas with a 1 p.m. first pitch.