March 27, 2009

LUBBOCK, Texas - The No. 6 Lubbock Christian (Texas) University Lady Chaparrals ended No. 2 Oklahoma City University's 15-game win streak with an 8-6 win before falling 6-3 in the second game of the Sooner Athletic Conference doubleheader (March 26) to fall for the first time at PlainsCapital Park this season.      

In the opener, the Lady Chaps jumped out early with a four-run first inning.  Honda Rodriguez started it off with a two-run blast down the left field line for a 2-0 lead.  Stars starting pitcher LaVelle had control problems in the inning and threw 47 pitches before being replaced in the inning by Ashley Wilburn.  LaVelle walked Loren Phelps with the bases loaded and then surrendered a bases loaded infield single to Sabby Hernandez before being replaced.

OCU produced their first run in the top of the second inning with a solo homer off the top of the left field scoreboard by Melissa Moore.  They cut the deficit to 4-3 with a pair of runs in the third inning off of a sacrifice fly by Moore and a run producing single by Mindy Crabaugh.  The Lady Chaps regained the two runs surrendered in the top half of the inning with two runs in the bottom of the third inning.  Stars left fielder Bianca Bryant dropped a long fly ball resulting in an error and sacrifice fly for Hernandez, and Jade Espinoza followed with an RBI off of a fielder's choice.  The Stars struck again in the fourth inning with Amanda Howard hitting a single to score Wilburn and cutting the Lady Chaps lead to 6-4. Wilburn scored again in the sixth inning with LaVelle singling her in.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Amanda Parsons connected on a double to score Raquel Hawkins, and Clarissa Maldonado grounded out to score Nicole Clark from third base for an 8-5 lead.  Oklahoma City threatened in the top of the seventh inning off reliever Jori Rodgers with another solo home run by Moore, but Alyssa Gutierrez reentered the game for Rodgers and retired the Stars to claim the win.

Guttierez improved to 16-1 with the win, as she allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out three batters.  LaVelle suffered her first loss (12-1), as she allowed four runs on four hits in 2/3 of an inning pitched.  OCU had not allowed more than three runs in a game this season.

Just as LCU struck first in the opener, the Stars struck first in the start of the second game.  Howard hit a lead-off homer off Kelly Griego to centerfield to begin the contest.  Howard struck again in the second inning with a triple to right-centerfield that scored a pair of runs for a 3-0 lead.  Ginalee Davis scored the first Lady Chaps run of the game with a solo home run to centerfield in the bottom of the second inning, but the Stars got the run right back in the third inning with Moore's third homer of the afternoon and first of the game. 

LCU just missed out on a chance to tie the game in the fourth inning.  Davis flied out deep to left field and Rodriguez tagged up from second base and was thrown out at third base as she was unable to slide through Moore, who was on her knees in front of the bag receiving the throw from Bryant in left field.  If Rodriguez had been safe, Kelly Griego's two-run home run, which followed, would have been a three-run home run. 

OCU added to the 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh inning with Howard's second home run of the game and a ground out by Crabaugh that scored LeVelle from third base. 

LaVelle claimed the win (13-1) going 5 1/3 innings and allowing three runs on four hits.  Wilburn pitch 1 2/3 hitless innings for the save (2).  Griego suffered her first loss on the season (14-1) allowing six runs on ten hits.  Howard was 3-for-4 in the game with two homers and 4 RBI.

The series split places LCU's record at 33-4 overall and 8-4 in SAC play, while OCU goes to 28-2 and 11-1.  The Lady Chaps remain home this weekend and host No. 25 Southern Nazarene for a conference doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday at PlainsCapital Park.