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Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Photo by Kimberley Parker Senior Laura Lopez and the 'Belles travel to Abilene for the Lone Star Conference Championship Series.

The Lone Star Conference tournament stage is set: the No.4-ranked Rambelles (41-8, 14-4 LSC South) will be facing bitter rival No. 12-ranked Abilene Christian (42-11, 15-3 LSC South) for the LSC crown.

The 'Belles made it through the first three rounds of the tournament, picking up wins over Cameron, Texas A&M-Kingsville and No. 4 ranked Southeastern Oklahoma.

Friday's opening game saw the powerful trio of seniors Macy Baker, Laura Lopez and freshman Sandy James each go deep, as the 'Belles crushed Cameron (32-22. 17-7 LSC North) 11-3.

Lopez was 4-for-4 on the day, her last hit being her 15th homerun of the season, a walk-off shot to end the game in the sixth inning.

James smashed her NCAA Division II-leading 23rd homer of the season, her first since a 3-4 loss to St. Edwards on April 7.

Junior Chelsea Nelson (23-4, 2.48 ERA) picked up her 23rd win, striking out four in her 25th start of the season.

Saturday's second round saw the 'Belles hang on for a 4-3 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville, due in large part to the efforts of Lopez.

The senior catcher, making the most of the final games of her career, hit two more home runs, ending the day 3-for-3 with four RBIs, a perfect 7-for-7 thus far in the tournament.

Nelson, without allowing a walk, earned her second win in as many days, improving her record to (24-4).

The 'Belles wrapped up the tournament on Sunday, with another 4-3 victory, over the No. 4-ranked Savage Storm of Southeastern Oklahoma.

Southeastern's Marjorie "Wild Thing" Johnson (23-5, 0.83 ERA), leading the league in strike outs (381) and wild pitches (32), fanned 10 'Belles, but walked nine through just four innings of work, accounting for three ASU runs.

Junior April Haywood (16-4, 2.96 ERA) held on to pick up her 16th win, despite struggling to end the game, issuing back to back bases loaded walks in the final inning with two outs.

Nelson would come in to record the final out, getting the last batter to ground out to junior Nicole Smith at third base.

The championship series between Abilene Christian and the Rambelles begins Friday at 5 p.m. at ACU's Poly Wells Field.

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