GULF SHORES, Ala. (February 3, 2024) – Bailey Hughes combined for seven total bases in a pair of games Saturday, as Lubbock Christian University followed a 3-1 loss to West Alabama with a 10-4 victory over West Florida to split play in the Gulf Coast Invitational at Sportsplex.
 
Hughes was 3-for-5 on the afternoon and two of the three wits were for extra bases.
She was 1-for-2 in the opening game, hitting a double in the bottom of the seventh inning, as LCU was trying to rally from a 3-1 deficit.
 
Marissa Mitchell put West Alabama on the scoreboard in the first inning with a solo two-out home run. LCU matched the run in the bottom of the first inning with a sacrifice fly by Riley Flores. It was Flores' first sacrifice fly of the sophomore's career (appeared in 53 games last season).
 
The game remained tied at 1-1 until the sixth inning, as the Tigers laid down three bunts and two of the three resulting in singles, as LCU was unable to get a bang-bang call go in their favor. It set up the eventual winning run for UWA. They added a run off a sac-fly in the top of the seventh inning to go up 3-1. Hughes' double in the seventh inning put the tying run at the plate, but Tigers pitcher Madison Wright was able to strikeout the final two batters to complete a 10-strikeout performance.
 
Wright (2-0) pitched a complete game, allowing one unearned run in 7.0 innings off five hits. The performance shadowed the LCU pitching debut of Teoni Lamb (0-1), who also pitched a complete game (7.0 innings) and held UWA to five hits. Lamb did not allow a walk and allowed two earned runs.
 
Sydnee Bowlin was 2-for-4 at the plate for LCU's lone multi-hit performance. LCU was 0-for-7 at the plate in two-out at-bats and 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. The loss put LCU 0-2 all-time against UWA and both meetings have been played in Gulf Shores.
 
LCU bounced back in the second game scoring early and often. In the top of the first inning, the Lady Chaps surged with four runs off five hits for a 4-0 lead. Hughes crushed a three-run homer with two outs to highlight the frame.
 
An infield bunt single provided West Florida their first run in the bottom half of the inning, but LCU responded in the second inning with a two-run inning. Kamryn Gibbs led off the inning with a double off the fence to set up an RBI-single by Hope Banales.
 
LCU extended the lead to 8-1 with a pair of runs in the third inning. Hughes led off with a single and it was followed with a double down the line by Houston transfer Baylea Myers. Gibbs singled both players home with a two-run base hit.
 
A two-run double by Ally Oyanguren gave LCU insurance in the sixth inning, as LCU took a 10-2 lead. The Argonauts scored a run in the home half of the inning to avoid a run rule.
 
Maxine Valdez claimed the win in the circle (1-1) and claimed her 37^th career win. She went 4.0 innings and allowed two runs off four hits, while striking out four batters, Ashlinn Hamilton pitched the final 3.0 innings and collected her first career save. She held the Argos to one earned run off two hits.
 
Montana Young (1-1) was tagged with the loss, as the Argos starter went 4.0 innings and allowed five earned runs off nine hits. Five Lady Chaps had multi-hit performances, led by Myers, who went 3-for-4. Hughes went 2-for-3 and led LCU with three RBI.
 
The win put LCU 1-2 all-time against West Florida. LCU remains in Gulf Shores Sunday to face No.1 North Georgia. The game against the reigning national champions is scheduled for 12:30 p.m., but overnight rains my lead to a change.