TYLER, Texas (February 22, 2025) – Kendra Levesque tallied three hits across the doubleheader, driving in three of LCU's four runs, but No. 1 UT Tyler proved too strong, sweeping No. 23 Lubbock Christian University with 6-2 and 8-2 victories in Saturday's Lone Star Conference series at UT Tyler Softball Complex.
 
Game 1
Kendra Levesque went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and it proved to be the lone scoring for LCU, as UT Tyler opened the doubleheader with a 6-2 win.
 
The Patriots used a four-run second inning and home runs from Kynslee Watson and Mikayla Campos to secure the win, while pitcher Paetynn Aholelei struck out 10 in a complete-game performance.
 
Aholelei (7-0) allowed just four hits and two earned runs while walking three in a 132-pitch effort. LCU's Emily Dix (4-1) suffered her first loss of the season,
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless first inning, UT Tyler broke through in the second. With a runner on third, Tatum Barney delivered an RBI single to put the Patriots on the board. Barney later stole second, and a throwing error allowed another run to score. Moments later, Jada Smith doubled to center, driving in two more and extending UT Tyler's lead to 4-0.
In the third, Watson launched a solo home run to center, pushing the Patriots' lead to 5-0. Campos added another run in the fourth with a solo shot of her own to right, making it 6-0.
 
LCU finally broke through in the sixth when Ynez Kaaialii was hit by a pitch, setting up Kendra Levesque, who crushed a two-run homer to center, cutting the deficit to 6-2. However, Aholelei shut the door in the seventh, retiring the side to seal the win.
 
LCU managed just four hits, with Levesque providing the only extra-base hit, while UT Tyler capitalized on timely hitting and strong pitching.
 
GAME NOTES
» Levesque's home run gives her a team-high four this season and eight in her career, including her totals from New Mexico State.

» UTT was 3-for-8 in two-out at-bats, leading to four two-out RBI for the Patriots.

» For the Patriots, Ka'Lyn Watson went 2-for-2 and was the lone player with a multi-hit performance.
 
Game 2
Levesque went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI for the Lady Chaps in an 8-2 loss to the Patriots in Saturday's second game. UT Tyler remained unbeaten on the season with the victory (15-0, 6-0), fueled by a strong offensive start and a steady pitching performance from Kaylee Davis.
 
Teoni Lamb (2-2) got the ball to start for Lubbock Christian (12-4, 3-3) and took the loss. Miia Campos led the way for the Patriots, blasting a three-run homer in the second inning, while JT Smith and Bailey Krolczyk each added two hits. Davis (3-0) earned the win in relief, tossing 3.2 innings and allowing just one run on two hits.
 
LCU managed five hits, with Levesque collecting two, including an RBI double.

HOW IT HAPPENED
UTT struck early, taking a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI-double from Alaunah Almaraz. The Patriots broke the game open in the second when Campos launched a three-run homer to center, capitalizing on a defensive miscue by Lubbock Christian.
 
The lead grew to 6-0 in the third when Jordyn De Los Santos drove in two runs with a single up the middle. Lubbock Christian got on the board in the fourth with Levesque's RBI-double. They could have added more, but LCU hit into an inning-ending bases-loaded double play.  The Patriots answered in the bottom half as Krolczyk's infield single plated Smith.
 
Trailing 8-1 in the sixth, Lubbock Christian pushed across its final run when Kadin Vire delivered an RBI single, but Davis and the Patriots' defense closed the door, retiring the final five batters to seal the win.
 
GAME NOTES
» Lubbock Christian went 3-for-7 (.429) with runners in scoring position.

» Levesque led the Chaparrals at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. She was 3-for-6 in the series with a double, homer and three RBI.

» Texas-Tyler was led offensively by Mila Campos, who went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI.

» UTT went 4-for-9 in two-out at-bats leading to a trio of two-out RBI. In the series, they were 7-of-17 (.412) in two-out at-bats with five RBI.
 
» The Patriots were 5-for-12 (.417) getting the leadoff batter aboard in the series, and they hit .304 (7/23) in at-bats with the bases empty.
 
» Levesque (2-for-4) and Vire (2-for-2) combined to go 4-for-6 with runners on base. Vire's 2-for-2 featured runners in scoring position.
 
» Saturday's doubleheader marked LCU's first road games of the season.
 
HISTORY LESSON
UTT has defeated LCU 11 consecutive contests, and they lead the all-time series 13-3. LCU fell to 2-8 all-time in Tyler against the Patriots (10 of the last 16 meetings have been in Tyler).
 
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU remains on the road Monday, where they will face Texas Woman's in Denton, Texas with a 2 p.m. doubleheader.