SAN ANTONIO, Texas (March 8, 2024) – Lubbock Christian University rallied late for a 4-2 win in the opening game, but had a 4-0 lead slip away, in a 10-4 loss in the second game, as LCU and St. Mary's split the doubleheader portion of their three-game Lone Star Conference series Friday evening at St. Mary's Softball Stadium.
 
 
GAME 1 | Lubbock Christian 4, Saint Mary's (TX) 2
The Lady Chaparrals responded from tied 2-2 in the sixth inning (their first game this season tied at the close of the sixth inning) to win in exciting fashion, securing a 4-2 victory over the Rattlers in the opening game.
 
Maxine Valdez (3-5) got the win for Lubbock Christian. The right-hander went seven innings, giving up one earned run on two hits and striking out three Rattlers for her fourth complete game of the season.
 
Ally Oyanguren led the way offensively for the Lady Chaps, going 1-for-2 in the ballgame with a double and an RBI. She also stole home. Sophomore Riley Flores furnished a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 1-for-2 with a double and a walk. Tiarra Delrosario also helped out, going 1-for-4 for Lubbock Christian with an RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 1-0, the Lady Chaparrals first put runs on the board in the fifth inning. Oyanguren came across to score the lone run of the inning for Lubbock Christian and get them on the board, as the stole home on pick-off attempt at first base to tie the game 1-1.
 
The score stayed at 1-1 until the very next inning, when the Lady Chaps put runs on the scoreboard once again. Senior Skylar Herrera came across to score the lone run of the inning for Lubbock Christian, off a sacrifice fly by Oyanguren, which brought LCU's lead to 2-1.
 
Saint Mary's came back to even the ballgame at 2-2 (scoring on a throwing error) before Lubbock Christian reclaimed a 4-2 advantage in the seventh inning. The Lady Chaps scored twice, with one run coming across on Delrosario's single.
 
GAME NOTES
» Lubbock Christian's highest scoring inning was the seventh, when it pushed two runs across. Hannah Wells came off the bench and produced a sacrifice fly for her fourth career RBI (first sacrifice fly) and first of the season. Delrosario's RBI-single was in her final at-bat of the game, which extended her hit streak to 19 games.

» The Lady Chaparrals out-hit the Rattlers at a 5-2 clip. LCU's Valdez did not allow a hit through the first 12 batters she faced (3.1 innings).

» Herrera stole two bases in Friday's game. Her first two stolen bases of the season and her 17^th game of her career with multiple stolen bases. She has 81 in her LCU career. The Lady Chaps swiped a season-high five bases as a team in the contest.

» Valdez held Saint Mary's 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Overall, Valdez faced 27 Saint Mary's hitters in the game, allowing three ground balls and 14 fly balls while striking out three.

» Saint Mary's (TX) was led offensively by Jamison Holder, who went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

» Jadyn Abrego suffered the loss (3-2), throwing seven innings and allowing three earned runs off five hits.
 
GAME 2 | Saint Mary's (TX) 10, Lubbock Christian 4
Lubbock Christian had a tough showing in the second game of the doubleheader, falling to the Rattlers by final score of 10-4.
 
Taryn Westbrook (2-2) came out of the bullpen for Lubbock Christian (11-10, 10-7) and took the loss in 1.1 innings of relief work. She replaced Teoni Lamb, who allowed four runs off six hits in 3.0 innings.
 
Skylar Herrera led the way offensively for the Chaparrals, going 2-for-4 in the ballgame with a home run and an RBI. Riley Flores provided a standout performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-1 with a walk and an RBI. Hanna Wells also helped out, going 1-for-1 for Lubbock Christian with an RBI.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lady Chaparrals put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the second inning. Lubbock Christian got an RBI single from Wells, scoring Bailey Hughes from second base.
 
LCU followed with a three-run second inning, started off with a solo home run by Skylar Herrera. Sacrifice fly by Bailey Hughes and a RBI-single from Riley Flores brought the LCU lead to 4-0. The Lady Chaps were unable to hold the lead, as Saint Mary's scored 10 times over the remaining four innings to grab the 10-4 win.
 
They did it with the long-ball, Mackenzie Dugi homered once and Reba Reyes homered twice and all three home runs were two-run home runs. Reyes' second home run was the start to a five-run fifth inning for the Rattlers.
 
GAME NOTES
» Lubbock Christian allowed four unearned runs in the game. The 10 runs allowed matched a season high.

» Senior Hope Banales stole two bases in Friday's game. Her first game with multiple stolen bases in her LCU career.

» Lubbock Christian stranded nine base runners.

» LCU lost their first game of the season when hitting a home run, as they are now 10-1 in games in which they hit at least one home run.

» With Bailey Hughes' sacrifice fly, LCU has produced seven sacrifice flies over their last five games. They had one sac fly previously on the season (before the current sequence).

» Herrera led the Chaparrals at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. The home run was her team-leading sixth home run and she has 39 in her LCU career.

» Saint Mary's (TX) was led offensively by Reba Reyes, who went 4-for-4 with a triple, two home runs and four RBI. She was a double shy of the cycle.

» Savannah Youngblood led the Rattlers pitching staff, throwing five scoreless innings. She improved to 5-1 on the season, as she held LCU to five base hits (all singles) in the 5.0 innings.
 
» Tiarra Delrosario had a hit in the game, which extended her hit streak to 20 games.
 
» The split places the all-time series at 22-22, and for LCU, they are now 8-17 against StMU in San Antonio.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The two squads play the rubber match of the three-game LSC series Saturday with a 1 p.m. first pitch at St. Mary's Softball Stadium.