LUBBOCK, Texas (April 28, 2018) - Melanie Gamboa and
Lindsey Smith drove in a pair of runs each but it wasn't enough as Texas A&M International University dropped its regular season finale to Lubbock Christian, 8-6, on Saturday afternoon at PlainsCapital Park in Lubbock. The Dusdevils finish the regular season 24-32 overall and a program-best 18-12 in Heartland Conference play.
The Dustdevil will be the fourth-seed in next week's Heartland Conference Tournament in San Antonio where they will face off against fifth-seeded Rogers State on Thursday, May 3. Links for live stats and video can be found at GoDustdevils.com under the softball schedule page.
Lubbock Christian 8, TAMIU 6
The Lady Chaps scored for the first time for the third time this series on a KK Lopez-Lui single through the left side in the first. They nearly added to that lead in the bottom of the third after loading the bases with one out but
Delainy Thompson came in relief and retired the next two batters.
The Dustdevil would tie the game at 1-all in the top of the fourth on consecutive doubles by
Maddison Schofield and
Lindsey Smith. Schofield led the inning off with a two-bagger to left followed by Smith's double to right center. LCU would retake the lead in the bottom half of the inning scoring five runs on three hits to take a 6-1 lead.
Melanie Gamboa led the fifth inning off with a home run over the fence in left field giving the Laredo product three for the season. TAMIU would add two more in the sixth to cut the deficit to 6-4.
Alyssa Acuna's one-out walk got it all started followed by back-to-back singles by
Brandi Giles and
Sara Caterson to load the bases. Gamboa drove in her second run of the game with a single to center field to keep the bases loaded.
Cassie Cannon would drive in the second run of the inning on a fielder's choice that saw pinch runner
Krystal Perez out at second. Much like they did in the fourth, the Lady Chaps responded with two runs of their own to make it 8-4 after six complete.
It was déjà vu in the top of the seventh as Schofield doubled before coming around to score on Smith's double that saw the junior advance to third on a throwing error. The Bullhead City, Ariz. product scored at the next at-bat on a wild pitch to pull the Dustdevils within two, 8-6.
Melanie Lint (11-9) went 2 1-3 inning in the start allowing one run (one earned) on three hits with three walks and one strikeout. Thompson pitched 1 2-3 innings in relief allowing five runs (five earned) on three hits and four walks. Caterson also made a relief appearance going 2 innings.
