{"id":277836,"date":"2026-05-04T04:46:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T04:46:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/277836\/"},"modified":"2026-05-04T04:46:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T04:46:09","slug":"long-ball-send-off-seniors-homer-their-way-to-sunday-sweep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/277836\/","title":{"rendered":"Long Ball Send-Off: Seniors Homer Their Way to Sunday Sweep"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>                    &#13;<br \/>\n                        &#13;<br \/>\n    &#13;<br \/>\n\t\t&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t\tStory Links&#13;<br \/>\n\t\t&#13;<br \/>\n        &#13;<br \/>\n   &#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n                             &#13;<\/p>\n<p>                    LUBBOCK, Texas (May 3, 2026) \u2013 Senior Day was as advertised Sunday at Maner Park, as Lubbock Christian University&#8217;s four seniors combined for four home runs and 10 RBI on the afternoon, as the Lady Chaparrals rallied with a six-run sixth inning for a 10-7 win in the opener before completing the Lone Star Conference doubleheader sweep with a 12-2 run-rule shortened (five innings) victory to close out the regular season with wins over Sul Ross State.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nGAME 1<br \/>\nLubbock Christian used a six-run sixth inning to erase a three-run deficit and rally past Sul Ross State for a 10-7 win in the opening game of the doubleheader.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nThe Lady Chaparrals (27-22, 23-16 LSC) pounded out 11 hits, including four home runs, to overcome an early surge from Sul Ross State (7-39, 7-39 LSC). Freshman <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/lexi-clark\/5069\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"5069\" target=\"_blank\">Lexi Clark<\/a> (10-8) earned the win in relief, tossing four innings and allowing one unearned run on three hits while striking out three. Addison Castilleja (3-9) took the loss for the Lobos after surrendering nine runs on 10 hits over 5.1 innings.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nLCU was powered offensively by <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/kadin-vire\/4724\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"4724\" target=\"_blank\">Kadin Vire<\/a>, who went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBI, while <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/brianna-chambers-lee\/5075\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"5075\" target=\"_blank\">Brianna Chambers-Lee<\/a> added two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs. <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/piper-garcia\/4722\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"4722\" target=\"_blank\">Piper Garcia<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/sophia-reyes\/4730\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"4730\" target=\"_blank\">Sophia Reyes<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/ashlinn-hamilton\/4712\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"4712\" target=\"_blank\">Ashlinn Hamilton<\/a> and Chambers-Lee each homered in the contest, accounting for all four of LCU&#8217;s long balls. Garcia finished with two runs scored and an RBI, while Reyes drove in two runs. Hamilton also contributed a solo home run and scored twice.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nSul Ross State matched LCU with 11 hits, led by Elizabeth Clemente, who went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, and Alexandra Ramos, who finished 2-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored. Baylie Savage added a double and an RBI, and Jenna Leanos chipped in two hits and a run batted in.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nHOW IT HAPPENED<br \/>\nSul Ross State struck first in the opening inning, using a two-out rally as Ramos reached via hit-by-pitch and came around to score on a ground-rule double from Savage for a 1-0 lead.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nLubbock Christian answered immediately in the bottom half, as Chambers-Lee opened the scoring with a solo home run to center field before Hamilton followed with a solo shot of her own, giving LCU a 2-1 advantage.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nThe Lobos evened the game in the second on a run aided by a passed ball, and then surged ahead in the third when Clemente launched a two-run home run to left field, putting Sul Ross State in front 4-3.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nSul Ross State extended the lead in the fourth, capitalizing on a defensive miscue that allowed a run to score before Bustos added an RBI single, stretching the margin to 6-3.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nLCU answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, as Vire delivered an RBI-double to cut the deficit to 6-4.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nThe Lobos added another unearned run in the fifth on an RBI single from Leanos to make it 7-4, and LCU was held scoreless in the fifth, entering the sixth inning trailing by three.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nThe Lady Chaps responded with their decisive rally in the sixth. Garcia led off with a solo home run to left field, trimming the deficit to two. After <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/riley-flores\/4711\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"4711\" target=\"_blank\">Riley Flores<\/a> singled, Reyes tied the game with a two-run home run to left-center. Following a flyout, Vire doubled to set up Chambers-Lee, who drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI-double down the left field line. After a hit-by-pitch and a wild pitch moved runners into scoring position, Clark delivered a two-run single through the left side, extending the lead to 10-7.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nSul Ross State threatened in the seventh, placing runners on the corners with one out, but Clark induced a groundout to end the game, securing the comeback victory for Lubbock Christian.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nGAME NOTES<br \/>\n\u00bb LCU matched a season high with four home runs. In LCU&#8217;s final 12 regular season games, LCU produced six multi-HR games and has totaled 21 home runs over the span. Prior to that sequence, LCU had 15 home runs over a 38-game span, with four multi-home run games.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\n\u00bb The Lady Chaps posted a season-high seven extra-base hits between a trio of doubles and their four homers.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\n\u00bb <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/kadin-vire\/4724\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"4724\" target=\"_blank\">Kadin Vire<\/a>, who leads LCU in multi-hit games, went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a pair of doubles. She is the only Lady Chap this season to have two doubles in a game and she has done it three times this season. The three-hit performance is her fifth of the season (leads team) and 10th of her career, as it matches her career high.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\n\u00bb <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/sophia-reyes\/4730\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"4730\" target=\"_blank\">Sophia Reyes&#8217;<\/a> home run that tied the game in the sixth inning was her first career home run as a Lady Chap, and it came in her fourth at-bat of the season and 62nd at-bat of her LCU career.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\n\u00bb <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/brianna-chambers-lee\/5075\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"5075\" target=\"_blank\">Brianna Chambers-Lee<\/a> was 2-for-4 with a double, home run and two RBI. The home run marked her fourth of the season (all in a six-game span) and the performance also marked her ninth multi-hit game of the season.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\n\u00bb <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/piper-garcia\/4722\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"4722\" target=\"_blank\">Piper Garcia&#8217;s<\/a> solo shot in the sixth inning marked her second home run of the season and her fifth in her LCU career.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nGAME 2<br \/>\nLubbock Christian erupted for 10 runs over the third and fourth innings to secure a 12-2 run-rule victory over Sul Ross State in the second game of the afternoon.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\n\u00a0The Lady Chaparrals (28-22, 24-16 LSC) piled up 13 hits and capitalized on three Sul Ross State errors, while sophomore pitcher <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/natalee-gray\/4723\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"4723\" target=\"_blank\">Natalee Gray<\/a> (6-4) earned the win after allowing two runs on seven hits over four innings. Freshman Jaclyn Pate (2-15) took the loss for Sul Ross State (7-40, 5-35 LSC), surrendering 12 runs (10 earned) on 12 hits in 3.1 innings of work.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nOffensively, Lubbock Christian was led by <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/kadin-vire\/4724\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"4724\" target=\"_blank\">Kadin Vire<\/a>, who went 2-for-3 with four RBI, while <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/alexis-pacheco\/5067\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"5067\" target=\"_blank\">Alexis Pacheco<\/a> finished a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI. <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/ashlinn-hamilton\/4712\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"4712\" target=\"_blank\">Ashlinn Hamilton<\/a> added a 2-for-3 performance that included a two-run home run, her ninth of the season, and scored twice. <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/riley-flores\/4711\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"4711\" target=\"_blank\">Riley Flores<\/a> contributed a hit and three RBI, and <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/piper-garcia\/4722\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"4722\" target=\"_blank\">Piper Garcia<\/a> chipped in two hits and a run scored as part of a balanced attack.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nSul Ross State tallied eight hits in the contest, highlighted by Jenna Leanos, who went 2-for-2 with two RBI, while Alexandra Ramos added a 2-for-2 effort with a double. Baylie Savage also collected two hits and scored a run for the Lobos.<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<br \/>\nHOW IT HAPPENED<br \/>\nLubbock Christian struck first in the opening inning, taking advantage of a defensive miscue as <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/ava-castillo\/5072\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"5072\" target=\"_blank\">Ava Castillo<\/a> reached on an error and later scored on an RBI single from Vire for a 1-0 lead.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nThe Lady Chaps added to the advantage in the second inning, as Pacheco singled and advanced to third on a throwing error before coming home on a bases-loaded walk by Vire to make it 2-0.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nLCU broke the game open in the third inning, plating four runs on four hits. Hamilton and <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/coryn-burris\/5073\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"5073\" target=\"_blank\">Coryn Burris<\/a> opened the frame with consecutive singles before a misplayed sacrifice bunt allowed Hamilton to score. Pacheco followed with an RBI single, and after Garcia added an infield hit, Flores lifted a sacrifice fly to extend the lead. <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/sophia-reyes\/4730\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"4730\" target=\"_blank\">Sophia Reyes<\/a> capped the inning with an RBI groundout, pushing the margin to 6-0.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nSul Ross State answered in the fourth inning, using a pair of walks and a bunt single to load the bases before Leanos delivered a two-run single to cut the deficit to 6-2.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nThe Lady Chaps responded immediately with their decisive rally in the bottom half of the fourth. Chambers-Lee opened the inning with a single before Hamilton launched a two-run home run to right field. After a walk and two more singles loaded the bases, Flores delivered a two-run single, and Vire followed with a two-run base hit to extend the lead to 12-2.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nSul Ross State threatened in the fifth, placing a runner on base, but <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/reese-farrar\/4710\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"4710\" target=\"_blank\">Reese Farrar<\/a> entered in relief and recorded the final outs to secure the run-rule victory for Lubbock Christian.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\nGAME NOTES<br \/>&#13;<br \/>\n\u00bb <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/kadin-vire\/4724\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"4724\" target=\"_blank\">Kadin Vire<\/a> produced her team-leading 19th multi-hit game of the season. She combined to go 5-for-7 (.714) with two RBI and six RBI on the afternoon. In the second game of the doubleheader, she went 2-for-3 and produced a career high with four RBI.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\n\u00bb <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/riley-flores\/4711\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"4711\" target=\"_blank\">Riley Flores<\/a> (2-for-2 with three RBI) and <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/alexis-pacheco\/5067\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"5067\" target=\"_blank\">Alexis Pacheco<\/a> (3-for-3) are a pair of Lady Chaps that went 1.000 on the day (combined games) that started both games. Pacheco, who did not have an at-bat in the opener, went 3-for-3 in the second game to match a career high with a three-hit performance.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\n\u00bb Sunday&#8217;s games not only closed the regular season, but also served as Senior Day, as seniors <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/piper-garcia\/4722\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"4722\" target=\"_blank\">Piper Garcia<\/a>, Sofia Reyes, <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/riley-flores\/4711\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"4711\" target=\"_blank\">Riley Flores<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/ashlinn-hamilton\/4712\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"4712\" target=\"_blank\">Ashlinn Hamilton<\/a> were recognized prior to the games.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\n\u00bb Hamilton had a home run in each game. She has nine home runs on the season and 16 in her LCU career. Three of her home runs have been hot over a four-game span, as Hamilton was 6-for-10 on the weekend (4 games) with three home runs and six RBI. Additionally in the circle, she had three strikeouts in 4.1 innings and registered a save.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\n\u00bb <a href=\"https:\/\/lcuchaps.com\/sports\/softball\/roster\/riley-flores\/4711\" rel=\"smarttag nofollow noopener\" rev=\"4711\" target=\"_blank\">Riley Flores<\/a>, playing in her 196th career game, registered a three-RBI game to match a career high for a second time in her career. One of her RBI was produced on a sacrifice fly, for her 10th career sac-fly.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>&#13;<br \/>\n\u00bb The Lone Star Conference still has games scheduled for Monday with implications on the line for LSC Championship seedings. LCU appears to have locked up the No.6-seed with a 24-16 record, which has them opening against the No.3-seed (currently slated as Angelo State). ASU and West Texas A&amp;M entered the weekend battling for the top spot, but WT swept ASU and the Belles went 1-3 on the weekend.<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>\n\u00bb LCU closed the regular season 13-7 at home this season.<\/p>\n<p>HISTORY LESSON<br \/>&#13;<br \/>\nThis season marked the second season LCU and SRSU have faced each other (all-time) and the pair of wins has LCU with a 6-1 all-time record against SRSU and with a 5-0 record against the Lobos in Lubbock,<br \/>&#13;<br \/>\n\u00a0<br \/>&#13;<br \/>\nWHAT&#8217;S NEXT<br \/>&#13;<br \/>\nLCU awaits the LSC&#8217;s announcement of the times and pairings of the nine-team double-elimination tournament, which begins Wednesday with a No.9-seed vs. No.8-seed matchup before Thursday&#8217;s full slate of games.<br \/>&#13;<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"&#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; Story Links&#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; &#13; LUBBOCK, Texas (May 3, 2026) \u2013&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":277837,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[168,170,169],"class_list":["post-277836","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-lubbock","tag-lubbock","tag-lubbock-headlines","tag-lubbock-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/277836","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=277836"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/277836\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/277837"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=277836"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=277836"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=277836"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}