OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (March 4, 2022) – Lubbock Christian University opened Lone Star Conference play with a pair of games they won in which they trailing through six innings, as the Lady Chaps swept No.18 Oklahoma Christian with a 4-3 and 8-7 (in eight innings) come-from-behind win over No.18 Oklahoma Christian Friday at Tom Heath Field.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Game 1: LCU 4, OC 3 | Game 2: LCU 8, OC 7
Records: LCU (16-2, 2-0), OC (11-6, 0-2)
Location: Oklahoma City, Okla. (Tom Heath Field)
Time of Game: Game 1: 1:48, Game 2: 1:56
Weather: Game 1: 72F, Fair, Wind-18 to LF, Game 2: 74F, Fair, Wind-18 to LF
Game 1
LCU Highlights:
- Taylor Franco – 6.0 innings, 8 hits allowed, 1 earned run
- Savannah Wysocki – 2-for-4, 2B,
- Tyla Lee – 1-for-4, 1 RBI
Turning Point:
In the top of the seventh inning and LCU trailing 4-3, Caroline Chilton hit a pop-up which was dropped by second baseman Kelsey Gammage. Kamryn Gibbs would re-enter for Chilton and would eventually score to tie the game and would be the first of two runs scoring for LCU in the inning.
How it Happened:
LCU took advantage of a trio of OC errors, and it started with a pair of two unearned runs in the top of the second inning. Angela Donaldson laid down a bunt for an infield single and the throw to first went astray, leading to a run scoring. LCU’s Athena Muniz hit a sacrifice fly to complete the two-run inning.
OC matched LCU’s runs with a pair of unearned runs off two LCU errors, scoring in the second and third inning to tie the game.
LCU had a chance to take the lead in the top of the sixth inning, as a trio of walks loaded the bases one out. Muniz hit into a line-drive double play and OC escaped with the game remaining tied. The Lady Eagles took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with a Kylie Janzen leadoff home run.
The Lady Chaps rallied in the top of the seventh inning. With Chilton reaching on an error, Wysocki hit a double to the left-centerfield fence to place two runners in scoring position. Brooke Makemson tied the game with a sacrifice fly and Tyla Lee followed with a two-out single to give LCU a 4-3 lead.
Rian Gamble singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh for OC. LCU went to the bullpen and replaced starting pitcher Taylor Franco with Maxine Valdez. Gamble stole second base and advanced to third base on a wild pitch to place the tying run at third base with no outs recorded. LCU was able to get back-to-back ground outs on the right side of the diamond and each were unable to advance the run home. With two outs, Valdez was able to strike out Janzen to record the save and end the game.
Inside the Numbers:
- Taylor Franco improved to 9-0 on the season. She earned her first win over OC in her career, as she was making her fifth career start against the Lady Eagles (1-4). Franco forced OC in 11 groundouts Friday.
- LCU produced two sac flies in the game, which is a season high and a mark LCU completed three times last season. Makemson and Muniz each hit sac flies in the game, and each co-lead the team with two (LCU has eight on the season).
- The Lady Chaps claimed their first win when trailing after six innings (1-1).
- Maxine Valdez claimed the save in the circle, which was her second of her career and first since Mar. 8, 2020 (LCU’s last date of playing prior to the COVID interruption).
- LCU improved to 9-6 all-time in conference openers and 2-1 in openers associated with the LSC.
Game 2
LCU Highlights:
- Kasey Flores – 2-for-3, 4 RBI, 2B, HR
- Angela Donaldson – 2-for-3, SH, SB
- Tiarra Delrosario – 1-for-4, RBI 2B
Turning Point:
A pitch resulting in an outcry by the home fans provided Tyla Lee a base-on-balls with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. Riley Lunsford pinch ran for Lee and she was able to score from first base on a ball lined to the left-centerfield fence by Kasey Flores, which tied the game.
How it Happened:
OC struck first in the bottom of the first inning, as they had a single, double and triple produced in the inning for a 2-0 lead. They made it 3-0 in the third inning, as Brooklin Bain and Whitney Walde each doubled to start the inning.
LCU did not have a hit through their first 12 batters, but they led off the top of the fourth inning with a double from Brooke Makemson. Lee followed with a walk and it set up a three-run home run by Kasey Flores. LCU added two more in the inning, including a two-out RBI-single from Savannah Wysocki for a 5-3 lead.
Bain was 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three RBI for OC, and she had a pair scored on a double in the in the bottom of the fourth inning, which tied the game 5-5. They regained the lead at 6-5 in the fifth inning before LCU’s heroics in the seventh inning led by Flores’ double.
In extra innings, Tiarra Delrosario hit a two-run double to left-centerfield for an 8-6 LCU lead. In the bottom half, Janzen led off with a home run off Mattye Tyler, who was in on relief. It was her only run allowed in a quality relief outing. Taylor Franco entered for the save and registered the save getting the two outs LCU needed for twin.
Inside the Numbers:
- Franco became the third LCU pitcher this season to record a save. The save was the fifth save of her LCU career, which ranks tied for fifth all-time in LCU program history in saves. (Sarah Mendez five saves in 2012).
- Mattye Tyler recorded her first career win in a Lady Chaps uniform and she is the third Lady Chaps pitcher to record a win this season. She allowed one run off two hits in 2.1 innings and struck out three batters.
- Kasey Flores posted a four-RBI game for the second time this season.
- Kasey Flores’ home run was her team-leading sixth of the season and her 29th career home run. She is tied for 19th in active career home leaders in NCAA Division II.
- Tyla Lee reached base in the seventh inning with a walk which extended her streak of consecutive games reaching base safely at 16 games.
- Tiarra Delrosario’s clutch two-out hit extended her LCU hit streak to 10 games, which actively leads LCU.
- LCU improved to 3-1 against nationally ranked programs this season.
- The Lady Chaps are 2-1 in extra inning results and with a pair of on-run games on the day, LCU is now 4-1 in one-run results this season.
HISTORICAL NOTE
LCU improved to 37-18 all-time against OC. The Lady Eagles had won the prior seven battles. The Lady Chaps, winning at OC for the first time since Apr. 16, 2019, are now 12-11 all-time against OC at Tom Heath Field.
WHAT’S NEXT:
LCU wastes no time returning to live action, as they face Cameron for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. in Lawton, Okla. Saturday. The games were originally scheduled for Sunday, but moved up a day due to inclement weather possibilities.