LUBBOCK, Texas (March 16, 2025) – Lubbock Christian University wrapped up its opening weekend of Lone Star Conference divisional play with a doubleheader split against Western New Mexico at Maner Park. The Mustangs took the opener 6-3, but the Lady Chaparrals responded with an 11-3, six-inning victory to improve to 3-1 in division play.
Game 1
Western New Mexico used a pair of late-inning rallies, including a two-run homer in the seventh, to take down Lubbock Christian 6-3 on Saturday at Maner Park. Madison Kloepper tossed 2 1/3 shutout innings in relief to earn the win for the Mustangs (7-21), while
Kendall Ward suffered her first loss of the season for the Lady Chaps (19-10, 10-9).
The Lady Chaps received three hits from
Kendra Levesque. In addition to her three hits, Levesque had two doubles and two RBI to lead the Lady Chaparrals.
Yaya Kaaialii compiled a standout performance at the dish as well, going 2-for-4 with a double.
Kristen Boyd also chipped in for Lubbock Christian, driving in a RBI-double in three trips to the plate.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Western New Mexico broke a scoreless tie in the third, plating three runs on a string of singles and an error. Lubbock Christian responded in the bottom half, with
Kendra Levesque knocking in a run before
Kristen Boyd's RBI double cut the deficit to 3-2. The Lady Chaps tied the game in the fifth when Levesque doubled home
Baylea Myers.
Momentum shifted in the sixth when Lubbock Christian failed to capitalize after a one-out single. The Mustangs seized control in the bottom half, as Lauryn Carbajal's RBI-double put them back on top 4-3. Carbajal delivered again in the seventh, launching a two-run homer to left to extend the lead. Kloepper then retired LCU in order in the bottom half to secure the win.
GAME NOTES
» Lubbock Christian pitchers faced 32 Western New Mexico hitters in the game, allowing 11 ground balls and three fly balls while striking out seven.
» Levesque led the Chaparrals at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI. It is her fourth three-hit game this season.
» Western New Mexico was led offensively by freshman Lauryn Carbajal, who went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
Game 2
A seven-run outburst in the sixth inning propelled Lubbock Christian to an 11-3 victory over the Mustangs in the second game.
The Lady Chaps (20-10, 11-9) trailed entering the final frame before capitalizing on defensive miscues and timely hitting to notch the run-rule win.
Emily Dix (7-3) earned the victory, while Haiven Schoolcraft (0-2) took the loss for the Mustangs (6-22).
Teoni Lamb recorded the save.
Kawehi Ili and
Baylea Myers each collected three RBI to help propel the Lady Chaps.
Dix (7-3) went five innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on four hits, allowing one walk and striking out five. Lamb also pitched well, going one shutout inning while allowing one hit and striking out two.
Myers went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double in addition to her three RBIs and Ili put together a 1-for-3 day with a three-run home run and a walk, supplementing her three RBI performance for the Lady Chaps. Kaaialii compiled a noteworthy day at the dish as well, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Lubbock Christian struck early, scoring four runs in the first. Kaaialii doubled home a run before
Kawehi Ili belted a three-run homer to center, giving the Lady Chaps a commanding 4-0 lead.
Western New Mexico chipped away, scoring on an error in the third before Antonya Lucero's two-run homer in the fifth made it a 4-3 ballgame. WNMU momentum was short-lived, as Lubbock Christian broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth.
Ashlinn Hamilton started the rally with a double, and after an RBI sacrifice fly by
Riley Flores put LCU up 5-3, the Lady Chaps capitalized on an error and a bases-loaded double by
Baylea Myers to extend the lead to 9-3. Two more runs scored on a fielding miscue, ending the game via run rule.
GAME NOTES
» Myers picked up three hits in the game for Lubbock Christian. It marked her team-leading fifth three-hit game this season and she leads LCU with 13 multi-hit performances this season.
» Lubbock Christian grabbed a 4-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» LCU out-hit the Mustangs at an 11-5 clip.
» Lubbock Christian went 3-for-10 (.300) with runners in scoring position.
» LCU pitchers limited Western New Mexico to just 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
» Ili led the Chaparrals at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. The home run was her third of the season.
» Levesque was 4-for-6 in the combined two games with a .714 on-base percentage. Two of her four hits were doubles.
» LCU had eight doubles in the combined two games, produced by five different Lady Chaps.
» Western New Mexico was led offensively by freshman Antonya Lucero, who went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
» The split places LCU with a 13-4 home record this season at Maner Park.
HISTORY LESSON
The afternoon split moved LCU to 19-1 all-time against WNMU, with a 14-1 record at Maner Park. WNMU's win in the opener was the Mustangs first win all-time against LCU.
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU returns to the road Friday and will head to Wichita Falls, Texas to face Midwestern State.
