Another 50-Win Season

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 7, 2011) – The No.6 Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals climbed into the winner-take-all championship game of the Sooner Athletic Conference Softball Tournament with an 8-1 win over Oklahoma Christian University and a 4-2 win over No.11 Oklahoma City University, but they were unable to claim their first SAC Tournament title.  Oklahoma City tallied three runs in the seventh inning to win the tournament with an 8-6 victory over the Lady Chaps late Saturday night at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.

LCU had played from behind in each game of the tournament until the final championship game.  The Lady Chaps took advantage of some defensive miscues by the Stars and singles from Kim Frazier and Latainna Eltsosie provided LCU a 2-0 lead in the first inning.  Katie Proffitt tied the game in the second inning with a two-run double for the Stars.  Andrea Argee hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning for a 4-2 lead, but the Stars would answer again.  OCU scored a pair of runs in the fourth inning and took their first lead in the fifth inning with LeeAnn Lopez driving in a run with a single.  She finished the game 4-for-4.  Melissa Hartkop hit a bases loaded single with two outs to provide the Lady Chaps a pair of runs and a 6-5 lead.  LCU relief pitcher Amanda Longorio gave up a pair of hits and walked in a run with the bases loaded in the seventh inning, which allowed OCU to post a trio of runs and claim the tournament title. 

The Lady Chaps nearly wasted a great pitching performance Alyssa Freight to open the day’s play.  LCU fell behind 1-0 in the second inning, and Oklahoma Christian pitcher Leigh Leonard held the Lady Chaps to just three hits through five innings.  The Lady Chaps offense finally woke up in the sixth inning, as Priscilla FaGaines led off with a single and stole second base before scoring on a Kayla Van Dieren single down the right field line to score FaGaines and tie the game at 1-1.  LCU manufactured an additional two runs in the inning and took a 3-1 lead.  The offense continued in the seventh inning, with LCU rattling off seven hits leading to five runs.  Andrea Argee scored a pair of the runs with a single.  Freight went all seven innings in the circle and allowed one run off six hits.  Eltsosie went 3-for-4 in the win for LCU.

LCU had another slow start in their second game of the day.  Trailing 1-0, the Lady Chaps would not garner their first run until the fifth inning.  A four-hit fourth inning allowed LCU to produce a trio of runs, as Argee and Eltsosie had hits to drive in runs.  Nathalie Timmermans cut the LCU lead to 3-2 with a home run in the sixth inning, but LCU matched the run with FaGaines producing a hit to score Kirstie Cochran.  Meagan Navarrette pitched for LCU and claimed the win (17-0), with Longorio claiming her sixth save of the season. 

Lubbock Christian may have missed out on claiming their first conference tournament title, but the two wins on the day placed their overall record at 50-9 on the season.  The Lady Chaps have claimed at least 50 wins in all four seasons of their existence.  They will now await Tuesday’s announcement from the NAIA, as the qualifiers for the national championship are announced.