Box Score TYLER, Texas (May 11, 2023) – A season-high four errors led to No.4-seed Oklahoma Christian scoring five unearned runs and the No.22 Lady Eagles handed No.5-seed Lubbock Christian University a 9-1 loss (in five innings) to open the 2023 NCAA Division II South Central Regionals at Irwin Ballpark. The Lady Chaparrals will now play an elimination game at 3 p.m. Friday against No.8-seed St. Edward's.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: (4)OC 9 – (3)LCU 1
Records: LCU (39-16), OC (37-14)
Location: Tyler, Texas (Irwin Ballpark)
Time of Game: 1:35
Weather: 85-Partly Cloudy, Wind – Gusts to 17 MPH to CF
LCU Highlights:
Turning Point:
A four-run second inning OC in which LCU committed two errors and two critical breaks went in favor of OC, which allowed OC to open with a 6-0 lead.
How it Happened:
Oklahoma Christian jumped out to the start they wanted. In the top half of the inning, starting pitcher Jill Dickson struck out two of the four batters she faced, and their offense scored a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. The two runs scored were unearned, as two errors on the right side of the diamond prolonged the inning. OC's first run was off a sacrifice fly, which was their 23
rd of the season (they entered the game ranked sixth nationally in sacrifice flies).
LCU had their first two batters reach via walks in the top of the second inning, but Dickson bounced back striking out the next three batters to end the threat. LCU had another error in the bottom of the second inning, but LCU had to battle some bad breaks. Kristen Whitehouse scored a pair for OC on a liner called fair down the right field line. They would go on to score four runs in the inning. In the mix for the Lady Eagles was their second sacrifice fly of the game, and it came in zany fashion. On a foul-out in left field, Whitney Walde was called safe despite LCU left fielder
Hope Banales' throwing home to catcher
Victoria Owens with a throw that beat Walde by 10 feet.
Banales would have a positive result in the top of the third inning, as she hit a solo home run over the right-centerfield fence to cut the deficit to 6-1. OC got the run back in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Kiley Brewster hit a two-out double to score Kate Bradley from first base. Marissa Powell followed with a triple off the top of the centerfield fence to put the OC lead at 8-1. The run rule was made possible on a third run scoring in the inning on LCU's fourth error of the game.
Inside the Numbers:
- Maxine Valdez pitched 3.2 innings in the start and fell to 16-6 with the loss. She allowed nine runs, with five of the runs unearned.
- Skylar Herrera had a stolen base in the top of the second inning, which placed her with 77 career stolen bases, and the swipe was her 25th of the season, which co-leads the team. The 77 stolen bases ranks third in program history and is one back of Lindzi Clemmer, who had 78 from 2016-2019 and ranks second in program history.
- LCU matched a season-low in hits (1). The Lady Chaps were held to one hit on Feb. 17 against UT Tyler.
- Hope Banales hit a two-run home run in the third inning, which was her ninth home run of the season.
- The game was LCU's second neutral site game of the season. It matches as the fewest total of neutral site games since playing two in 2014, but this season marks their first without a neutral site win.
- The four errors committed by LCU were a season high.
- OC scored a pair in the first inning, which places LCU 6-12 when the opponent scores first and 6-9 when the opposition scores in the first inning.
- LCU falls to 0-10 this season against nationally ranked opponents.
HISTORICAL NOTE
LCU fell to 3-7 all-time in NCAA Division II South Central Region contests. They fall to 0-4 against OC this season and 37-23 in the all-time series, as the meeting marked the 60
th all-time series and the first in a NCAA postseason contest. LCU is now 3-6 all-time in games played at Irwin Ballpark.
WHAT'S NEXT:
The Lady Chaps will attempt to keep their season alive Saturday at 3 p.m. against No.8-seed St. Edward's.
