CANYON, Texas (February 20, 2021) –
Skylar Herrera flashed the glove and also combined for seven runs-batted-in on the opening day of the WT Invitational at Schaeffer Park, helping lead No.25 Lubbock Christian University to a 4-0 win over Colorado School of Mines and an 8-2 win over Fort Lewis College Saturday.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Game 1: No.25 LCU 4, CSM 0 | Game 2: No.25 LCU 8, FLC 2
Records: LCU (7-2), CSM (0-1), FLC (0-2)
Location: Canyon, Texas (Schaeffer Park)
Time of Game: Game 1: 1:45 | Game 2: 1:45
Weather: Game 1: 48-Sunny / W-11 to LF | Game 2: 61-Sunny /W-19 from LCF
Game 1 vs. Colorado School of Mines
LCU Highlights:
- Athena Muniz 2-for-3 with two RBI
- Taylor Franco 7.0 innings pitched, complete game shutout and 4 strikeouts.
- Skyler Herrera 1-for-3 with a RBI.
Turning Point:
Athena Muniz hit a low-line shot to centerfield which went off the glove of scampering centerfielder Lauren Decker, leading to a pair of runs scoring with the bases loaded in the first inning for LCU.
How it Happened:
- Savannah Wysocki led off the game with a double and LCU had six of their first seven batters reach base safely, leading to a four-run first inning. Herrera, having a single nullified by "time" being called, followed with another hit and it scored Wysocki for the game's first run. Muniz scored a pair of runs on a single to centerfield with the bases loaded.
- The Lady Chaps had five hits in the four-run first inning, and they were held to one hit the rest of the way, as CSM pitcher Sydney Marchando retired 20 of the final 21 LCU batters.
- Taylor Franco held the Oredigger bats silent, as she faced three batters over the minimum (24).
Inside the Numbers:
- LCU stranded eight runners on base, as they were 1-for-10 with runners on base and 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
- Taylor Franco improved to 4-1 on the season, recording her fourth complete game and third complete game shutout. She has now pitched 34.1 innings without allowing an earned run.
- Of CSM's four hits in the game, three were infield singles (two by bunts).
- Meeting for the first time since the 2018 season, LCU improved to 3-0 all-time against CSM.
Game 2 vs. Fort Lewis College
LCU Highlights:
Turning Point:
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, LCU extended a 2-0 lead with a grand slam by Herrera, which was part of a five-run inning for LCU.
How it Happened:
- Alivia Villarreal led off the third inning with LCU's first hit of the game. Later in the inning, LCU was with two outs when Wysocki singled and Herrera blasted a home run to left-centerfield for a 2-0 advantage.
- Herrera came up again with two outs, as she followed her two-run homer with a high towering shot to left field for a grand slam and a 6-0 lead. LCU was not done in the inning, as Brooke Makemson singled and Angela Donaldson doubled to score Makemson for a 7-0 lead
- The Skyhawks scored an unearned run in the fifth and sixth innings, as LCU combined for three errors in the two innings.
- Chloe White made a pinch-hit appearance in the sixth inning and drove in Wysocki with a hit through the left side for an 8-2 lead.
Inside the Numbers:
- All eight runs by LCU were tallied with two outs. LCU was 8-for-13 in two-out at-bats, with Herrera and Donaldson each going 2-for-2 in two-out at-bats.
- Wysocki (2-for-4), Tyla Lee (3-for-2) and Villarreal (2-for-3) each had multi-hit games to join Donaldson and Herrera in the game.
- Herrera's grand slam was her second of her LCU career, and she was the last LCU player to hit a grand slam in the game (Feb. 8 , 2020 vs. Oklahoma Baptist). Her first career multi-home run game provided her with a career-high six RBI and she has six career home runs.
- Stotyn (2-0) held FLC to 1-for-11 with runners on base and 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. She went 6.0 innings and allowed four hits.
- LCU moved to 4-0 all-time against FLC, as the two teams were meeting for the first time since 2017.
Up Next:
LCU has a long day of softball Sunday, opening the day with a 10 a.m. first pitch against Fort Lewis College and then following with Colo. Colorado Springs (UCCS) at 6 p.m. for the final game of the WT Invitational in Canyon.
