TYLER, Texas (April 27, 2024) – Lubbock Christian University was unable to preserve a 1-0 lead after five innings of play, as a three-run sixth inning helped No.4 UT Tyler complete a three-game Lone Star Conference sweep with a 3-1 win Saturday at UT Tyler Softball Complex.
Maxine Valdez (11-7) got the ball to start for Lubbock Christian (25-21, 24-18) and suffered the loss. The right-hander went 6.0, giving up three runs, none earned, on three hits, and striking out five batters.
Offensively, the Lady Chaparrals were paced by Hope Banales, who went 2-for-3 on the day with a double. Baylea Myers put together a noteworthy performance as well, going 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The contest was scoreless until the fourth inning. LCU scored first, as they got an RBI-single from Myers, scoring Tiarra Delrosario from second base.
Heading into the sixth inning, UT Tyler had only two hits in the game. They were able to get life off a leadoff walk and a pair of errors, which led to a trio of unearned runs.
GAME NOTES
» Lubbock Christian fell to 0-13 in games they score two goals or less, and 1-6 in two-run games.
» LCU out-hit the Patriots at a 5-3 clip. Despite being swept, LCU out-hit UTT 18-16 in the series.
» Maxine Valdez pitched her 30th complete game of her career and the 10th of the season. She had sequences of 12 and 10 consecutive batters faced without surrendering a hit. All three hits allowed were singles.
» Valdez limited Texas-Tyler to 1-for-8 (.125) with runners in scoring position.
» LCU dropped to 16-4 in games in which they led after five innings of play.
» Hope Banales led the Lady Chaps at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double.
» G. Armendari led the Patriots pitching staff, throwing 5.2 innings of one-run ball.
» Baylea Myers was 4-for-8 (.500) in the series and co-led with Delrosario (4-for-10) to lead LCU in the series in hits. Myers had four LCU's six RBI in the series,
HISTORICAL NOTE
UTT has won eight consecutive meetings and has a 10-3 lead in the all-time series. LCU fell to 2-6 in games played in Tyler. LCU moved to 3-9 this season in games played against nationally ranked opponents.
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU concludes the regular season and they finished sixth in the LSC with a 24-18 conference record. West Texas A&M will host the single-elimination LSC Softball Championships and LCU will be the No.6-seed, opening play Friday at 11 a.m. against No.3-seed Angelo State.
