DENTON, Texas (March 29, 2026) – Lubbock Christian University and Texas Woman's traded complete-game pitching performances Sunday, with Kendall Ward delivering a four-hit effort to lead the Lady Chaparrals to a 7-2 win in the finale after a 4-1 loss in the opener, resulting in a Lone Star Conference doubleheader split at Dianne Baker Field.
 
GAME 1
Lubbock Christian was limited to just two hits and could not overcome an early deficit, falling 4-1 to Texas Woman's in the opening game of the doubleheader.
 
Texas Woman's (22-15, 16-7 LSC) leaned on a dominant complete-game performance from Randi Crawford (12-2), who struck out 10 and allowed just one run on two hits without issuing a walk. Lubbock Christian (17-16, 13-10 LSC) received its lone offensive spark from freshman Coryn Burris, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI double, while Ashlinn Hamilton added the Lady Chaps' only other hit with a double.
 
Freshman Lexi Clark (6-4) took the loss after allowing two runs over three innings, while Natalee Gray and Reese Farrar combined for three innings of relief, with Farrar tossing 1.2 scoreless frames.
 
Texas Woman's was paced offensively by Hawwa Townsend, who went 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI, while Madison Lux added two hits and an RBI and Malarie Medina drove in a run.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless opening inning, Texas Woman's struck first in the second scoring with one hit. Madison Lux doubled to open the frame and moved to third on a wild pitch before coming home on a fielder's choice off the bat of Malarie Medina for a 1-0 lead.
 
The Pioneers added to their advantage in the third inning, as Tamia Cherry singled and advanced to third before scoring on a single up the middle from Lux to extend the lead to 2-0.
 
Lubbock Christian threatened in the second inning when Hamilton doubled and moved to third with one out, but Crawford stranded the runner to preserve the shutout. The Lady Chaps were unable to generate additional offense through the middle innings, as Crawford retired 11 consecutive batters at one point.
 
Texas Woman's extended its lead in the fifth, highlighted by Townsend's solo home run down the left field line to make it 3-0. Later in the inning, a throwing error allowed an additional run to score, pushing the advantage to 4-0.
 
The Lady Chaps broke through in the seventh inning when Kadin Vire was hit by a pitch and later scored on Burris' RBI double to left-center, cutting the deficit to 4-1. However, that would be the only damage, as Crawford recorded the final out to secure the complete-game victory.
 
GAME NOTES
» LCU struck out 10 times at the plate, which is a rarity, as it is just the second time this season they have accumulated at least 10 strikeouts in a game this season (had 11 strikeouts in their season opener against Augustana).          
 
» LCU's two hits in the contest marked their fewest of the season.
 
GAME 2
Lubbock Christian responded in the nightcap with a complete performance, defeating Texas Woman's 7-2 to earn the doubleheader split.
 
Lubbock Christian (18-16, 14-10 LSC) was powered by a breakout effort from Kadin Vire, who went 3-for-3 with a triple, two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored. Kendall Ward (4-2) earned the win in the circle for the Lady Chaps, tossing a complete game while allowing two runs on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
 
Offensively, LCU capitalized on opportunities, with Piper Garcia adding a hit and an RBI, Julie Muniz and Coryn Burris each driving in a run, and Brianna Chambers-Lee contributing a double.
 
Texas Woman's (22-16, 16-8 LSC) was limited to four hits, with Elizabeth Smith going 2-for-3 with an RBI double, while Riley Todd added a run and Tamia Cherry drove in a run. Caydance Gaddis (8-7) took the loss after allowing five runs (two earned) over 4.2 innings, with defensive miscues contributing to LCU's scoring.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless opening frame, Lubbock Christian broke through in the second inning. Chambers-Lee led off with a double and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Muniz to give the Lady Chaps a 1-0 lead.
 
LCU added to its advantage in the third, taking advantage of a Texas Woman's error. Ava Castillo reached on a miscue before Vire delivered an RBI-triple to right field. Moments later, Vire scored on a strikeout that resulted in a throwing error, extending the lead to 3-0.
 
Texas Woman's threatened in the fourth and got on the board when Cherry walked and later scored on Smith's RBI double to right-center, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
 
The Lady Chaps answered in the fifth inning, as Garcia worked a walk and eventually scored on Vire's RBI-double. A fielding error later in the frame allowed another run to cross, pushing the lead to 5-1.
 
LCU continued to add insurance in the sixth, with Garcia delivering an RBI single to plate Riley Flores, extending the margin to 6-1.
 
The Lady Chaps capped their scoring in the seventh when Vire doubled and later scored on Burris' sacrifice fly, making it 7-1.
 
Texas Woman's plated a run in the bottom of the seventh on a fielder's choice from Cherry, but Ward closed the door to secure the complete-game victory and the doubleheader split.
 
GAME NOTES
» Kadin Vire went 3-for-3 with two doubles and a triple for her team-leading 14^h multi-hit performance. The three hits match a career high and she has nine 3-hit games in her LCU career (four this season). Vire had her second game of two doubles this season (and of her career). She went 3-for-5 on the afternoon, with four runs scored and a pair of RBI.
 
» TWU loaded the bases without an out registered in the bottom of the fifth inning, but LCU was able to get out of the jam without allowing a run. TWU was 0-for-3 in at-bats with the bases loaded.
 
» The only other player than Vire with multiple hits on the day was Ashlinn Hamilton, who was 2-for-7 on the day.
 
» Neither team was flashy Sunday, as LCU (0-for-3) and TWU (0-for-7) combined to go 0-for-10 when there was a runner at third base and less than two outs. Additionally, TWU was 0-for-4 in the series in bases-loaded at-bats.      
 
» LCU was 4-for-7 in the game reaching base safely in leadoff at-bats, with Brianna Chambers-Lee going 2-for-3 in leadoff at-bats.
 
» The Lady Chaps matched a season high in errors with four.  LCU has won two of the three games this season in which they posted four errors.
 
» Kendall Ward was making her first start in the circle since Feb. 10 at Vanguard. She collected her second complete game of the season and third of her LCU career.
 
» Ashlinn Hamilton is LCU's active leader with a four-game hit streak. Riley Flores extended her streak of consecutive games reaching base safely to 13 games.
 
» The doubleheader split marked the second consecutive series split this season. LCU did not have a split in their opening 12 doubleheaders completed this season.
 
» Sunday's split places the Lady Chaps road record this season at 10-6.

HISTORY LESSON
The Sunday split has LCU 12-6 all-time against TWU and they have won 11 of the last 15 meetings. The last seven head-to-head meetings have been in Denton, where LCU is 5-4 all-time against TWU.  
 
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU returns home Friday to host Cameron at 4 p.m. at Maner Park for a LSC doubleheader.