By Chris Due, Lubbock Christian Sports Information

LUBBOCK, Texas - The good news Tuesday afternoon was finding out the NAIA announced Lubbock Christian (Texas) as the new No. 1 team in the NAIA polls, but things did not go well as soon as it was announced.  LCU led the second game of a doubleheader with the No. 23-ranked team in NCAA Division II, West Texas A&M, 6-1 in the third inning, but as soon as the rankings were announced, WTAMU scored seven-straight runs and defeated LCU 10-9 to end the Lady Chaps home winning streak at 54 games.
 
It was a déjà vu moment for the Lady Chaps.  The last time the Lady Chaps were announced as the No.1 team in the NAIA was Mar. 19, 2009, and on that same day the Lady Chaps lost the second game of a doubleheader against Northwestern Oklahoma State University and it ended a 30-0 start to the season, which was their best start in program history. 
 
In the opener, LCU jumped on the Lady Buffs early with a trio of first inning runs. All three runs came with two outs, as Andrea Argee lined in a run with a single and Amanda Longorio followed with a two-run single through the left side.  The Lady Chaps sent nine batters to the plate in the fifth inning and manufactured five runs off five hits, with Kim Frazier and Longorio each scoring a run with a double to highlight the offensive inning.
 
Sarah Mendez pitched her fourth complete game shutout of the season and she also had a two-game span of complete game shutouts.  She allowed three hits in five innings while striking out eight batters. Mendez improved to 9-0 this season.  Marci Womack suffered the loss (11-6) allowing seven earned runs off nine hits in 2.1 innings.  Frazier (2-for-3), Argee (2-for-3), Latainna Eltsosie (2-for-2) and Longorio (2-for-2, 3 RBI) each had multi-hit games for LCU.  The Lady Chaps were 7-for-12 with runners in scoring position and 9-for-16 with runners on base.
 
In the second game, LCU had an early 3-0 lead after a two run single by Longorio in the bottom of the first inning. An error led to a run for the Lady Buffs in the second inning, but LCU matched the run with Brittany Kent producing a double to score Maddie Johnson.  Argee hit a two-run home run in the third inning and extended the LCU lead to 6-1 before the Lady Buffs started their charge.  Doubles by Mercedes Garcia, Meghan Slattery and Kim LeComte each had doubles in the fourth inning leading to three Lady Buff runs and a three-run home run by Kristina Myles in the fifth inning gave WTAMU a 7-6 lead.

They made it 8-6 in the sixth inning with LeComte hitting a home run off Mendez, who came in to pitch relief work in the sixth inning.  Longorio walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the deficit to 8-7. Back-to-back doubles by LeComte and Meghan Brown in the seventh inning provided the Lady Buffs some insurance with a 10-7 lead.  LCU attempted a late rally in the seventh inning. A fielding error and ground out led to a pair of runs before Argee flew out to deep right field for the final out while the tying run was left stranded at second base. 
 
A small village was left stranded in the game, as the two teams combined for 21 stranded runners (11 by LCU).  Longorio suffered the loss for LCU (8-2), allowing six earned runs off 12 hits in 4.1 innings.  Adriana Garcia took the win in relief (4-1) and allowed two earned runs off six hits in 4.1 innings. The teams combined for 10 extra base hits, with WTAMU racking up five doubles and two home runs.  LeComte went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a homer and three RBI.  Johnson led LCU going 4-for-4 and Longorio went 2-for-3 with three RBI.
 
The Lady Buffs, who were coming off a series winning two out of three games against No. 1 (NCAA Div. II) Angelo State, had their record go to 23-11.  LCU has their record go to 27-2.  They are now 3-1 at home this season and all four games have been against ranked teams.  LCU plays six of their first eight home games against ranked opponents.  The only two games against unranked teams come Wednesday at 2 p.m. with a doubleheader against Northwood (Texas).