PORTALES, N.M. (March 20, 2018) – The Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals offense had 33 hits to produce 30 runs and sweep Eastern New Mexico 21-3 and 9-8 at Greyhound Softball Field Tuesday.
 
FIRST INNING
In game one, the Lady Chaps (19-9) scored 11 runs in the first inning off 10 hits with no ENMU (13-18) errors. Sydney Beuthien knocked in Lindzi Clemmer and Megan Darling, KK Lopez-Lui drove in Beuthien, K'leigh Arredondo's hit brought home Morgan Dufour and Annika Schwrtzenberg walked before the first out as recorded, chasing the Greyhounds starting pitcher from the game and leaving the bases loaded for the reliever. The next batter, Sara Ralston, hit a double to left centerfield to clear the bases, plating Lopez-Lui, Arredondo and Averi Miller (pinch ran for Schwartzenberg). Courtney Medina followed with a base hit to bring in Ralston. Lopez-Lui's second plate appearance in the inning resulted in a base hit to drive in Medina and Darling. Arredondo singled through the right side (her second time up to bat) to score Dufour to put LCU up 11-0.
 
THE REST
In the top of the fourth inning, Clemmer hit a two-run home run to left field. The Greyhounds answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning courtesy of a Lady Chap error. In the fifth inning, LCU added eight more runs off eight more hits, with Lopez-Lui, Haley Hardison, Logan Grado, and Brea Varnell each driving in one, Beuthiendriving in two with a double and Dufour scoring a pair off a two-run home run. Eastern New Mexico was able to get two runs across in the bottom of the fifth inning.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
Monique Francois (12-3) started in the circle for the Lady Chaps, throwing three shutout innings and holding the Greyhounds to one hit. She struck out three Greyhounds to earn her 12^th victory of the season. Clarissa Martinez threw 1.1 innings in relief and allowed three runs on four hits before Taylor Hinojos pitched 0.2 innings. Hanna Gary (5-5) got the start in game one for the Greyhounds, giving up seven run on five hits and two walks. Unable to record an out, she suffered her fifth loss of the year. Kiana Zerr pitched the final five innings for ENMU giving up 14 more runs off 17 hits.
 
FIRST INNING PART TWO
Lubbock Christian scored three runs in the first inning of the second game, with Lopez-Lui hitting a sacrifice fly to bring in Darling to start the scoring. Arredondo drove in Clemmer and Beuthien, as well. The Greyhounds followed with three runs themselves in the bottom of the first inning, with Erikka Burke hitting a two-run bomb and Ashley Lopez driving in Jennifer McElroy to even the score at 3-3.
 
TWO
LCU scored two runs in each the second, fourth and fifth innings to take a 9-3 lead. Lindzi Clemmer singled to left field in the second inning to drive in two runs before Lopez-Lui hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning and a two-run double to right field in the fifth inning.
 
COMEBACK FOILED
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Greyhounds mounted a comeback scoring five runs before the Lady Chaps managed to close out the game. The first two runs by ENMU, in the seventh inning, were due to back-to-back Lady Chap errors. Kamalani Peneku drove in two and Elena Garcia drove in one.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
Amber Carlton started in the circle in game two for Lubbock Christian, throwing two innings and allowing three runs on five hits before giving way to game one starter, Monique Francois (13-3). Francois pitched the final five innings and did not allow any earned runs. She held ENMU to three hits to notch her 13^th victory of 2018. Kimberely Herron (1-4) received the start for Eastern New Mexico in game two. She threw the first two innings and gave up five runs on five hits for her fourth loss of the season. Leslie Reyes pitched the last five innings for the Greyhounds giving up four runs on six hits.
 
NUMBERS
21 – Most runs scored since scoring 22 against Oklahoma Panhandle State on April 8, 2016
13 – Dufour's 13^th home run places her fourth in the country
5 – Dufour and Lopez-Lui are currently on a five-game hit streak
5 – Besides the two listed above, Darling has also reached base in five consecutive games
 
LAREDO
The Lady Chaps continue their four-game road stretch with a trip down south to Laredo next Tuesday for a Heartland Conference doubleheader with game one set for noon start.