The Duster Today

Canyon, TX - The Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaps softball program held NCAA Div. II West Texas A&M to just five hits in a combined doubleheader sweep, as the Lady Chaps defeated the Lady Buffs 11-0 and 11-1 Tuesday afternoon at Lady Buff Yard to garner their 11th consecutive win and improve to 16-2 on the season.

The doubleheader was highlighted by the pitching combination of LCU's Marissa Gonzalez and Kelly Griego. Gonzalez (9-1) pitched five innings, grabbing the complete game shutout by allowing just two hits and striking out nine batters in the opener. Griego (6-1), the game two starter, pitched all seven innings and struck out 10 batters, while giving up a run on three hits.

It took a couple of innings for the Lady Chaps offense to get going, but once it did, it did not stop. LCU picked up a pair of runs off three hits in the top of the third inning to take a 2-0 lead, and then extended the lead with four runs off four hits in the fourth inning. Gabby Woody highlighted the fourth inning with a lead-off solo home run. The Lady Chaps placed the run-rule in effect in the top of the fifth with a five-run inning. Sabrina Hernandez produced two of the runs in the inning with a single, and the Lady Chaps also had Lisa Stratton, Raquel Hawkins and Honda Rodriguez produce runs-batted-in. The Lady Chaps produced 12 hits in the game, with Hawkins going three-for-four with three runs-batted-in.

In game two, Daniela Garcia's RBI single in the top of the second inning started the LCU scoring. Woody scored on a throwing error in the inning to give the Lady Chaps a 2-0 lead. They added another run with Ginalee Davis producing an RBI in the third inning with a double before the Lady Buffs scored their lone run of the series with a solo home run by Jessica Ruzicki. Garcia scored on a throwing error to get the run back and gave the Lady Chaps a 4-1 lead in the fourth inning. Three consecutive hits in the fifth inning led to a 7-1 lead and LCU closed the game with a four-run sixth inning, with Garcia hitting a two-run double. She finished the game with three runs-batted-in and two-for-three from the plate. Amanda Parsons and Woody were each three-for-four from the plate.

In the two games, the Lady Chaps' 22 runs were scored on 28 hits. LCU now heads to Farmers Branch for a tournament hosted by Oklahoma Christian this weekend followed by a trip to Tucson, AZ for another tourney appearance.