LUBBOCK, Texas (February 16, 2024) – The Lady Chaparrals opened their Lone Star Conference slate with their 2024 home debut and Lubbock Christian University split their opening day of LSC play with a 3-1 loss and a 6-0 win against No.22 Oklahoma Christian Saturday at a brisk and windy Maner Park.
 
GAME 1 | No. 22 Oklahoma Christian 3, Lubbock Christian 1
 
Though they had plenty of opportunities, Lubbock Christian had a hard time cashing them in, leaving 10 Lady Chaparrals on base in a 3-1 setback at the hands of Lady Eagles.
 
Maxine Valdez (1-2) started and took the loss in the circle for Lubbock Christian. The right-hander went 6.0, giving up three runs on five hits, allowing two walks and striking out four. Senior Taryn Westbrook was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going one shutout inning without allowing a hit.
 
Tiarra Delrosario led the way offensively for the Chaparrals, going 1-for-2 in the ballgame with two walks (reached base three times).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Chaparrals got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the bottom of the first inning. Lubbock Christian plated a run on a based-loaded walk by senior Ally Oyanguren. The Chaparrals were unable to hold the lead, as Oklahoma Christian had a three-run fourth inning. Two of the runs came with two outs, as a pinch-hit infield chop by Marissa Powell resulted in a pair of runs scoring, as a bang-bang call at first nearly resulted in LCU getting out of the jam.
 
GAME NOTES
» Lubbock Christian left 10 runners stranded on base in the loss.

» The Chaparrals out-hit the Eagles at a 6-5 clip.
 
» Missing the first four games of the season, returning all-conference selection Skylar Herrera made her season debut.

» OC's Jill Dickson claimed the complete game win in the circle and held LCU to one run, while allowing six hits and walking four batters.

» All six LCU hits were singles.

» The loss placed LCU 15-2 all-time in home openers. The two losses have come in consecutive seasons and both have been against No.22 ranked programs (last season No.22 Washburn), which are the only times LCU has had national ranked programs face them in a home opener.
 
» The loss placed LCU 9-8 all-time in conference openers and 2-3 in LSC openers.
 
GAME 2 | Lubbock Christian 6, No. 22 Oklahoma Christian 0
 
Junior Teoni Lamb, making her home debit, was dealing in the second game, hurling a shutout to lead the Lady  Chaparrals over the OC 6-0. Lamb (1-1) went the distance for Lubbock Christian (2-4, 1-1), giving up six hits, walking none and striking out one.
 
Senior Hope Banales led the way offensively for the Chaparrals, going 4-for-4 in the ballgame with two doubles and an RBI. Sophomore Amanda Valdiviezo compiled a standout day at the plate as well, going 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI. Skylar Herrera also contributed, going 2-for-3 for Lubbock Christian with two doubles and a walk.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Chaparrals took the lead for good in the first inning, with an RBI single from senior Ally Oyanguren, scoring Herrera from third base.
 
The Chaparrals then tacked on runs in the second and third innings, with their biggest output coming in the third inning when they scored four times. LCU opened the frame with six consecutive batters reaching base (Herrera and Banales doubled).
 
GAME NOTES
» Lamb tossed a six-hit shutout for the Chaparrals. All six hits allowed were singles. Lamb has pitched 14.0 innings on the season and has not allowed in a walk in the span.

» Banales compiled four hits on the day for Lubbock Christian. The four hits are a career-high for Banales and the highest hit total by a Lady Chaps member since Savannah Wysocki had five hits on May 12, 2022.

» The Chaparrals had both Banales and Herrera smack a pair of doubles in the game.

» Every Lubbock Christian starter reached base safely in the win.

» The Chaparrals out-hit the Eagles at a 13-6 clip.

» Lubbock Christian went 6-for-14 (.429) with runners in scoring position. Banales (2-for-2) and Baylea Myers (2-for-3) led LCU in the category.

» Lamb limited Oklahoma Christian to just 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
 
» Amanda Valdiviezo hit an impressive home run against a head wind for her first homer of the season. The sophomore connected on her sixth career home run.

» Oklahoma Christian was led offensively by senior Kylie Janzen, who went 2-for-3.

» The win by the Lady Chaps was the first against a nationally ranked program since defeating No.1 UT Tyler on May 13, 2022. LCU had lost 12 consecutive games against nationally ranked foes (went 0-9 last season against ranked opponents).
 
» LCU ended a streak of seven consecutive losses in the all-time series against OC. It was their first win over OC since Mar. 4, 2022. OC was visiting LCU for the first time since Mar. 5, 2021.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The two programs wrap up their three-game LSC series Saturday at noon at Maner Park.
 
 
Portions of this recap was created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.