LUBBOCK, Texas (February 28, 2025) – No. 22 Lubbock Christian University dominated with a 10-0, five-inning victory to open their Lone Star Conference doubleheader against Texas A&M International, then sealed the sweep with a thrilling 5-4 walk-off win, scoring three runs in the eighth inning at Maner Park.
Game 1
Th Lady Chaparrals made quick work of TAMIU in the opener, securing a 10-0 shutout victory in five innings to open the doubleheader.
The Lady Chaps (14-5) struck early and often, scoring in every inning before the game was called due to the run rule. Teoni Lamb (4-2) delivered a dominant performance in the circle, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out five in a complete-game shutout.
Kylie Goad (3-3) took the loss for the Dustdevils (12-8), surrendering 10 runs—five earned—on nine hits and three walks over three innings of work
HOW IT HAPPENED
Lubbock Christian set the tone with a four-run first inning. Yaya Kaaialii doubled home two runs before Kristen Boyd followed with a two-run homer to left center. In the second, Kadin Vire extended the lead with a two-run home run to center field, and Boyd added an RBI double to push the advantage to 7-0. Ashlinn Hamilton led off the third with a solo shot to right center, increasing the margin to 8-0. The Lady Chaps capped their scoring in the fourth when Kaaialii belted a two-run homer to right field following a leadoff error.
Texas A&M International had limited opportunities at the plate, managing just two hits—one from Kennedy Griego in the first and another from Jenna Fabela in the fifth. The Dustdevils' best scoring chance came in the final inning when they put runners on second and third, but a strikeout and a groundout ended the threat.
Lubbock Christian finished with nine hits, highlighted by home runs from Vire, Boyd, Hamilton, and Kaaialii. Boyd and Kaaialii drove in three and four runs, respectively.
GAME NOTES
» Lamb tossed a two-hit shutout for the Lady Chaps. The complete game was her first of the season and 12th of her LCU career. She also registered her first shutout of the season and fifth of her LCU career.
» Kaaialii drove in a season-high four runs for Lubbock Christian. In the process, she connected on her first LCU home run.
» Lubbock Christian hitters hit four homers in the ballgame. That is the highest mark by the Lady Chaps since they connected with five against Western New Mexico on Mar. 22, 2023. Ironically, the last time LCU hit at least four home runs at Maner Park was Apr. 18, 2021 against TAMIU.
» Tracking LCU's four home runs, Boyd hit her second home run of the season, while Kadin Vire, Kaaialii and Ashlinn Hamilton each hit their first home runs of the season. Hamilton's homer was the second of her LCU career. With the home runs hit, LCU now has home runs hit from nine different players this season.
» The Chaparrals out-hit the Dustdevils at a 9-2 clip.
» Lubbock Christian went 4-for-6 (.667) with runners in scoring position. Kaaialii and Boyd were each 2-for-2 in the category.
» Kaaialii led the Chaparrals at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a double, a home run and four RBI.
Game 2
A late-game surge powered LCU to a 5-4 victory over TAMIU in extra innings to complete the doubleheader sweep. The Chaps secured the walk-off win with a three-run eighth inning, handing Tessa Ramirez her first loss of the season while Kendall Ward improved to 3-0 in relief.
TAMIU (12-9, 6-4) led for much of the contest, capitalizing on timely home runs and strong pitching from Zakayia Fredrick, who allowed just two earned runs over seven innings. However, Lubbock Christian (15-5, 6-4) battled back, using a combination of clutch hitting and aggressive baserunning to secure the win.
LCU starting pitcher Emily Dix struck out eight batters and tossed five innings, giving up two runs on five hits and walked one batter.
At the plate, the Chaparrals were led by Yaya Kaaialii, who went 2-for-4 on the day with a home run and an RBI. Riley Flores put together a noteworthy performance as well, going 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Senior Kristen Boyd also helped out for Lubbock Christian, putting together one hit in four trips to the plate while adding a double and an RBI.
Allison Gonzalez (4-2) suffered the loss for Texas Woman's, giving up five runs (four earned) on eight hits in four innings before exiting in the fifth.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Dustdevils struck first in the second inning when Isabella Perez launched a solo home run to left field, giving Texas A&M International a 1-0 lead. Lubbock Christian responded in the bottom half, with Riley Flores doubling to bring home Kristen Boyd and even the score.
In the fourth inning, Queenandra Dunn put Texas A&M International back in front with a solo shot of her own to left field. The Dustdevils threatened again in the fifth, but stranded a runner at third after Ward took over on the mound for Emily Dix and recorded a pair of strikeouts to escape the jam.
Lubbock Christian finally broke through in the seventh when Yaya Kaaialii crushed a game-tying solo homer to right field, forcing extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, Texas A&M International reclaimed the lead when Victoria Gonzalez led off with a home run. Dunn followed with an RBI double, scoring Kennedy Griego, who had singled earlier in the frame, to put the Dustdevils ahead 4-2.
The Chaps, however, responded with a dramatic bottom half. Piper Garcia led off with a single before Kadin Vire doubled, setting up a sacrifice fly from Kawehi Ili to bring LCU within one. Another sacrifice fly from Baylea Myers tied the game at 4-4 before Boyd delivered the walk-off hit, a double to left center that plated Cat Prisock for the game-winner.
Both teams tallied nine hits and played error-free defense, but Lubbock Christian made the most of its late opportunities to complete the comeback.
GAME NOTES
» Dix struck out eight Dustdevils hitters and now has 41 strikeouts in 34.1 innings this season.
» The Lady Chaps improved to 2-5 this season when trailing after six innings, as they rallied for the win.
» Lubbock Christian pitchers limited Texas A&M International to just 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. TAMIU was also held to 1-for-8 in getting the leadoff batter aboard.
» Kaaialii led the Chaparrals at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. She completed the day 4-for-6 with two homers, a double and five RBI.
» LCU did not commit an error on the day.
» The Lady Chaps, entering the day ranked third nationally in sacrifice flies, connected on a pair of sac flies in the game and they have 14 on the season. It marked the fourth time this season in which LCU recorded a pair of sac-flies. Baylea Myers, who had a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning, has a team-leading trio on the season.
» LCU improved to 2-0 on the season in games decided in extra frames.
» Texas A&M International was led offensively by sophomore Queenandra Dunn, who went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBI.
» Yaya Kaaialii extended the team's active leading hit streak to five games. She has reached base safely in a team-leading 18 consecutive games (active).
» The two wins improved LCU's home record to 10-1 on the season.
HISTORY LESSON
The Lady Chaps are now 27-11 all-time against TAMIU, and they have won 11 of the last 14 meetings against Dustdevils. LCU improved to 14-4 at home against TAMIU.
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU remains home for a Lone Star Conference doubleheader Sunday, as they host Texas A&M-Kingsville (1 & 3 p.m.) at Maner Park.
