MANSFIELD, Texas (February 1, 2026) – Washburn erupted for nine runs in the third inning to pull away from Lubbock Christian University, handing the Lady Chaps an 11–3 loss Sunday morning at Fields at Station 63 to close the Lone Star Classic.
Lubbock Christian (0–3) briefly climbed back into the game with a two-run third inning, but Washburn (3–1) responded immediately with its decisive outburst, capitalizing on extended innings and timely hitting to seize control. Kierra Goos earned the win for the Ichabods, allowing two runs on three hits over four innings while striking out four. Alexis Clark took the loss for LCU after working 2 1/3 innings in the circle.
Clark also paced the Lady Chaps offensively, going 1-for-1 with an RBI triple to spark LCU's third-inning rally.
Ava Castillo added an RBI single later in the frame and finished with a hit and a stolen base, while
Cat Prisock scored twice and
Kaylee Sheets and
Brianna Chambers-Lee each delivered doubles.
Washburn was led by Dalaney Anderson, who went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer, three RBI and three runs scored. Makenzie Sais reached base three times, stole three bases and scored twice, while Kate Ediger drove in two runs and Maddie McGee added a two-run single during the third-inning surge.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Washburn struck first in the bottom of the opening inning, scoring an unearned run after a leadoff single and a pair of defensive miscues allowed the Ichabods to grab a 1–0 advantage.
After two quiet innings from both offenses, Lubbock Christian broke through in the top of the third. Prisock reached on an infield single and scored when Clark ripped a triple down the left-field line to tie the game. Castillo followed with an RBI single to center, giving the Lady Chaps a brief 2–1 lead.
The momentum swung sharply in the bottom half of the inning. Anderson opened the frame with a solo home run, and Washburn followed with a string of hits, walks and aggressive baserunning to plate nine runs on seven hits. McGee's two-run single highlighted the rally, as Washburn sent 13 batters to the plate and built a 10–2 cushion.
LCU managed to add a run in the fifth inning when Sheets doubled and Chambers-Lee followed with an RBI double to trim the deficit, but Washburn answered once more in the bottom of the frame. Burgardt's RBI double pushed the margin back to eight and capped the scoring.
GAME NOTES
» While an 0–3 start is not ideal, LCU has navigated similar early-season adversity before, having also opened the 2024 campaign with an 0–3 mark.
» LCU committed four errors defensively in the game, which led to seven unearned runs. It was their highest error total since committing four on April, 26, 2024 (against UT Tyler).
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Ava Castillo, a first-year LCU transfer from New Mexico, had a solid opening weekend with a .455 hitting mark off a 5-for-11 appearance at the plate with a pair of stolen bases.
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Lexi Clark's triple marked her first collegiate hit, as the freshman went 1-for-4 on the weekend at the plate. In the circle, she made her first collegiate start Sunday and made two appearances on the weekend and had six strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched.
HISTORY LESSON
LCU fell to Washburn for a second time all-time, as the Ichabods take a 2-1 all-time series lead over the Lady Chaps. The meeting was the first-ever away from Lubbock between the two programs, as the prior two meetings were home openers for LCU.
WHAT'S NEXT
It is off to California for LCU, as the two teams make their first-ever venture to the Golden State next week, opening the D2 West Coast Challenge in Lake Elsinore, Calif. Friday facing San Francisco State at Rosetta Canyon Sports Park.
