TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler softball moved to 26-8 overall and 18-4 in LSC play after a doubleheader split with Lubbock Christian on Friday afternoon on homecoming weekend at Irwin Field.
GAME ONE: UT Tyler 3 | Lubbock Christian 5
UT Tyler had control throughout the game, but a late rally from the Lady Chaps pushed them in front in the seventh inning.
The Patriots jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of a pair of free passes and a single to load the bases. Next up was an error from the Lady Chaps that brought home the first run from
Kaelyn Lerma, and an RBI fielder's choice made it 2-0 as
Sydney Linn recorded an RBI.
Starter
Alli Kimball worked around a pair of singles in the first two innings, not allowing a run despite the traffic on the basepaths. The key play came in the second, as she got a lineout to first base that ended up as a double play. In the third she would allow another single, but got three quick outs around it, each on just one pitch.
The Lady Chaps busted through in the fourth, playing small ball on the way to a sacrifice fly before an RBI single to center field to tie the game. The Patriots would counter in the home half of the fifth, getting their own sacrifice fly from
Dezirae Lopez to take the lead yet again.
Lubbock Christian battled back in the seventh inning, getting the first two on before a sacrifice bunt. They added a single through the left side to tie the game, and then got an RBI groundout to take the lead. They added one more run via a wild pitch, taking a 5-3 lead into the final half inning.
The Patriots got a single to put a runner on with one out, but were unable to put the pressure on the Lady Chaps and fell 5-3.
The offense mustered just three hits in game one, one each from Lopez,
Layne Reh, and
Keona Wells. They got RBI from Lopez, Lerma, and Linn.
Addison Martindale suffered her first loss of the season in the defeat.
GAME TWO: UT Tyler 5 | Lubbock Christian 2
UT Tyler came roaring back in game two, tacking on five runs early and leaning on a big performance from
Kendall Selitzky.
Selitzky retired the first eight batters, going 1-2-3 in both the first and second innings while adding two strikeouts. Her perfect game was broken up in the third with a two-out single, but catcher
Taryn Barney threw her out trying to steal to end the inning. In the fourth, she went 1-2-3 yet again, keeping the Lady Chaps bats quiet.
While she dealt in the circle, the Patriots offense got to work. They plated their first run in the second, coming on an RBI fielder's choice from
Layne Reh. In the third, they added two more, the first of which via an error in center field, and the second from an RBI single by Reh. In the fourth, the Patriots added two more, both on errors by the Lady Chaps defense as
Kaylee Cavazos and
Dezirae Lopez each crossed the plate.
Lubbock Christian finally broke through on Selitzky in the fifth, getting a solo home run and later an RBI single. Those two runs would be the only runs of the game for the Lady Chaps, as Selitzky went 1-2-3 in the sixth and then faced just four batters in the seventh to shut town the game.
Dezirae Lopez and
Layne Reh each had a pair of hits in game two, with Reh having two RBI and Lopez having two runs scored.
Kendall Selitzky posted her fourth complete game of the season on her way to her seventh win. She allowed five hits and two runs while striking out two batters and surrendering no walks.
UT Tyler will face off with Midwestern State on Sunday afternoon in an LSC doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. back at Irwin Field.
