ODESSA, Texas (April 28, 2023) – For the second time in program history and the first time since April 12, 2011, Lubbock Christian University completed back-to-back no-hitters in a doubleheader. Friday, the task was completed at Falcon Field, as Taylor Franco no-hit UT Permian Basin in the opener (a 12-0 win in five innings) and Maxine Valdez completed the task in a 4-0 victory to complete Friday's play. Valdez added a special accomplishment with hers, as she matched the No.23 Lady Chaparrals single-game record for strikeouts with a career-high 16. The no-hitters were the 29^th and 30^th in program history, and LCU has completed a program single-season record seven no-hitters this season (four by Maxine Valdez and three by Taylor Franco).
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Game 1: LCU 12 – UTPB 0 (5 inn.) / Game 2: LCU 4 – UTPB 0
Records: LCU (38-14, 28-13), UTPB (8-41, 5-36)
Location: Odessa, Texas (Falcon Field)
Time of Game: Game 1: 1:25 / Game 2: 2:00
Weather: Game 1: 70 Overcast with Winds at 23 MPH / Game 2: Cold/Windy (25 MPH winds) and Overcast

GAME 1
 
LCU Highlights:

• Taylor Franco – complete game no-hitter, 7 strikeouts
• Hope Banales – 3-for-3, HR, 2 2B, 6 RBI
• Ally Oyanguren – 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI

Turning Point:
A two-out grand slam by Hope Banales in the top of the second inning.  

How it Happened:
Taylor Franco's no-hitter shadowed a 6-RBI performance by Hope Banales, who had five of the RBI in the first two innings (all six in the first three innings). In the first inning, she hit a RBI-double into right field and eventually scored on a passed ball for a 2-0 LCU lead. In the second inning, up with two outs, she hit a grand slam over the left-centerfield fence for a 6-0 LCU advantage.
 
LCU's biggest offensive output came in the third inning. Ally Oyanguren homered to left field to open the scoring in the inning with a two-run home run. Tiarra Delrosario hit a two-run double in the inning before Banales capped the scoring in the frame with a double to right field for her third extra-base hit in the game. LCU added an insurance run in the fourth inning with Amanda Valdiviezo driving in Skylar Herrera.

Inside the Numbers:

• Lost in the no-hitter and Hope Banales six-RBI game was Taylor Franco setting the program record for career starts, as she started her 108^th game in the circle. She passed Katera Eltsisie, who had 107 starts from 2013-2017. Franco's no-hitter was her program career record eighth of her career. She became the 12^th player in NCAA Division II history to reach eight no-hitters in their career. Franco set a career single-season high with her 20^th complete game and has 70 in her LCU career (29^th complete game shutout and seventh this season). The win moved her to 15-8 on the season 71-32 in her LCU career.
• Taylor Franco started her 107^th career game, which matched the LCU record for starts with Katera Eltsosie (2013-2017).
• Hope Banales hit her eighth home run of the season and first grand slam. The slam was LCU's fifth of the season. Banales' six RBI were a career high and her second two-double performance extended her team lead in doubles to 19 on the season.
• Ally Oyanguren produced her fifth home run of the season.
• LCU improved to 19-4 when scoring in the first inning and 31-3 when scoring first. They also improved to 31-2 when leading after four innings.
• The Lady Chaps also moved to 28-6 when hitting at least one home run in a game.

 
GAME 2
 
LCU Highlights:

• Maxine Valdez – complete game no-hitter, 16 strikeouts
• Berkeley Quinn – 3-for-4, 2B, RBI
• Kasey Flores – 2-for-3, 2 2B, RBI

Turning Point:
With two outs in the fourth inning, LCU had a trio of hits, including a two-out double by Kamryn Gibbs and a RBI-single by Berkeley Quinn.  

How it Happened:
A hit batter in the first inning was the only base runner for the Falcons, as Maxine Valdez retired the final 19 batters (in a row) she faced. In the mix was retiring the side on strikeouts on four occasions and striking out a string of 10 consecutive batters.
 
Meanwhile, LCU had a 1-0 lead early, as doubles by Quinn and Kasey Flores in the first inning provided LCU a 1-0 lead. They added to the lead with a three-run fourth inning. Skylar Herrera (single) and Ally Oyanguren (walk) led the inning off reaching base, which led to the opening run of the frame scoring on a groundout by Riley Flores. With two-outs, Kamryn Gibbs drove in a run and Quinn followed with a RBI-single for a 4-0 lead. LCU stranded 10 runners on base in the game.

Inside the Numbers:

• Maxine Valdez's 16 strikeouts matched LCU's program record, which was completed by Sarah Mendez in a no-hitter against Waldorf College on March 16, 2012 in Tucson, Ariz. Valdez pitched her fourth no-hitter of the season and sixth of her career. The win places her with a 16-4 mark on the season and 35-13 in her career. She now has 12 complete games on the season (19 in career) and seven complete game shutouts on the campaign (10 in her career).
• LCU produced five doubles on the season, which is their second-highest game total of the season. They hit six earlier this season (Feb. 3) against UCCS.
• Tiarra Delrosario had her team-leading 19^th multi-hit game of the season.
• Berkeley Quinn extended her hit streak to nine games, which actively leads LCU.
• LCU improved to 20-4 when scoring in the first inning and 32-3 when scoring first. They also improved to 32-2 when leading after four innings.
• The Lady Chaps also moved to 10-8 when they do not hit a home run in a game.
• LCU did not have an error in either game, which has them 20-2 when error-free.

HISTORICAL NOTE
LCU's no-hitters Friday moved LCU to 30 in program history. LCU has five no-hitters against UTPB (all-time) and they have completed the task in three consecutive season. Maxine Valdez has faced UTPB twice in her career and each have resulted in a no-hitter. Friday's accomplishment marked the second time in program history LCU had two no-hitters on the same day since they had a pair of combined no-hitters on April 12, 2011 against University of the Southwest. Meagan Navarrette, Carollin Hall, Alyssa Freight and Amanda Longorio were the four pitchers involved in the no-hitters.
 
LCU improved to 32-0 all-time against UTPB and improved to 14-0 all-time at Falcon Field.

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)
28. 4/12/23 - vs. Cameron (Maxine Valdez)
29. 4/28/23 - vs. UT-Permian Basin (Taylor Franco)
30. 4/28/23 - vs. UT-Permian Basin (Maxine Valdez)


WHAT'S NEXT:
The Lady Chaps conclude the regular season and wrap-up their three-game Lone Star Conference series against UTPB Saturday with a noon first pitch at Falcon Field.