AUSTIN, Texas (April 7, 2018) – After suffering eight errors Friday, Lubbock Christian University found a way to make sure errors would not be a factor Saturday. Fourteen hits by the LCU offense and a one-hit pitching gem by Monique Francois was able to overshadow three errors, as LCU took the rubber match 16-1 Saturday at Diane Daniels Field in Austin.
 
RETURN
The Lady Chaps (24-1, 13-8) took a two run lead in the first inning with a two-run bomb from Morgan Dufour, who was making her first series return to Diane Daniels Field and hit her first home run against the squad she spent two seasons with. LCU added four more runs in the second inning with Adelae Vayas leading off the inning with a shot to left field, followed by a base-hit bunt by Courtney Medina down the third base line. Lindzi Clemmer doubled to left field to bring in Vayas and Medina. KK Lopez-Lui singled up the middle to knock in Clemmer before K'leigh Arredondo drove in Dufour.
 
ERROR
Once again, errors hurt the Lady Chaps with three in the game as the Hilltoppers (4-33, 4-17) scored their only run of the game in the second inning courtesy of a Lady Chap fielding error. Lubbock Christian responded with three runs in the third inning, starting with a Clemmer triple to plate Vayas and Medina. Clemmer scored off the bat of Lopez-Lui following a pitching change in the inning.
 
MERCY RULE
The Lady Chaps scored two runs in the fourth inning, with Sara Ralston scoring from third base on a Hilltopper error. Sydney Beuthien followed driving in Medina. LCU added five additional runs in the fifth inning, with Nicole Gentry scoring on another Hilltopper error before Brea Varnell's shot up the middle scored Logan Grado. Haley Hardison provided a big highlight with a three run home run to plate Meagan Gonzalez, Varnell and herself to put the Lady Chaps up 16-1 en route to a run rule victory.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
Monique Francois (18-3) started in the circle for the Lady Chaps, throwing all five innings. She did not allow an earned run and held SEU to one hit with four strikeouts to earn her 18^th victory of the year. Francois now has a no-hitter and a one-hitter thrown against SEU this season.  The Hilltoppers used three pitchers in the game, starting with Olivia Burdick (1-15) who threw 1.1 innings and surrendered five runs off five hits to suffer her 15^th loss of the year. Keely Frazier pitched one inning of relief, giving up four runs off four hits, before giving way to Reagan Carter, who pitched the final 2.2 innings. Carter allowed seven runs off five hits to finish out the game.
 
NO TRIP TO CANYON
The Lady Chaps will not make the trip to Canyon, Texas to play West Texas A&M Tuesday. Inclement weather forced WTAMU to move their Lone Star Conference series to Sunday and Monday. Instead, LCU will return home to host Oklahoma Christian Friday, April 13, which will serve as Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night at PlainsCapital Park with the first game of the doubleheader set for a 2 p.m. start.