TYLER, Texas – A big Lubbock Christian fourth inning cost the St. Edward's softball team, which fell 6-2 to the Lady Chaps in an elimination game at the NCAA South Central Regional.
ARIANNA VIDALES sparked St. Edward's with a leadoff infield single, later stealing second. Lubbock Christian starting pitcher Maxine Valdez responded by striking out the next two Hilltoppers. However, ALEXIS MASSIE continued her late-season offensive renaissance, lining an RBI single into right field that Berkeley Quin couldn't come down with on the diving attempt, scoring Vidales.
Lubbock Christian put together multiple runners in the first few innings, but St. Edward's was able to mitigate the damage to a sacrifice fly RBI hit by Kamryn Gibbs to tie the game in the second.
However, the Lady Chaps finally put together enough hits to break the game open with five runs on four hits in the fourth. First, Riley Flores sparked Lubbock Christian with a leadoff double to left field, then CADIE BELLE CURRIE walked Gibbs after the latter fouled off four consecutive pitches on a full count.
The Hilltoppers were able to get Flores out at third on a grounder hit directly to Massie for the first out, but Lubbock Christian got back-to-back singles from Hope Banales and Kasey Flores, combining for three runs, forcing St. Edward's to go to its bullpen.
KYLEN PADGETT replaced Currie, got Skylar Herrera to ground out, and walked Ally Oyanguren. She also struck out Victoria Owens swinging. However, it was a wild pitch allowing Owens to reach and score pinch-runner Sydnee Bowlin from third.
Lubbock Christian made a pitching to start the bottom of the fourth, putting in Ashlinn Hamilton for Maxine Valdez. The move appeared to benefit St. Edward's with consecutive walks for JORDAN NEELY and Massie to start the inning.
However, the momentum quickly died when JERZIE PELHAM grounded into a fielder's choice to second, putting runners on the corners, then got caught stealing. Finally, ELLA HUTZLER flied out to center field to end the inning.
St. Edward's put two runners on again in the fifth with a leadoff walk for MEGAN MORRIS and a one-out single through the left side from KATIE DILLON, putting runners in the corners again. Vidales followed with an RBI single up the middle that scored Morris and moved Dillon to third. Vidales was then caught stealing, and SLOANE HILLe lined out to end the inning.
Lubbock Christian retired the next six hitters to close the game. Vidales hit 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI to lead St. Edward's. Massie and Dillon also had a hit.
Lubbock Christian improves to 40-16, ending St. Edward's season with a 27-28 record.
