LUBBOCK, Texas (Feb. 25, 2023) – Texas Woman's (9-5, 5-2) softball fall to #9 Lubbock Christian (14-4, 4-3) in the bottom of the eighth inning, 1-0.
 
Clear signs of wind pushing to the left, the Pioneers battled through to hold the Chaps from scoring until the eighth inning.
 
Alyssa LeBlanc (5-3) pitched all eighth innings and is now 5-3. In the bottom of the first, LeBlanc had to make several adjustments to the Chaps, who had two lefty's up to bat in the first inning. LeBlanc walked both LCU lefty's but refused to let them get off easy and struck out two Chaps to close the first inning.

With 17 strikeouts against the Chaps LeBlanc has broken the program record for most strikeouts in a single game. 
 
The Chaps pitcher dealt three straight outs to the Pioneers each inning until the top of the seventh, when the Pioneers refused to go down without a fight.
 
Tylar Lane registered the first hit of the night to the left side and claimed first base. The Chaps became restless and gave up a walk to LeBlanc, and advanced Lane to second. Kate Franz made the substitution for LeBlanc strategically hoping that Avery Boley would put the Pioneers in a position to score. However, a ground ball out to second base would put that dream to rest.
 
The Pioneers return in the top of the eighth aiming to put a run on the board. After two strikeouts, Alexys Ginegaw reaches first base from a single to the left side, while Ciana Rodriguez sends it directly to first to close the top of the eighth inning.
 
The Chaps eventually caught onto LeBlanc and sent a triple to left field, followed by a double to left center to score the game winning run.
 
A total of 26 at bats and two hits were registered for the Pioneers. The Pioneers struck out 11 times compared to the Chaps 17 strikeouts.
 
The Pioneers will be back tomorrow afternoon, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. against the Chaps to decide the three-game series.