LUBBOCK, Texas (February 5, 2021) – No.19 Lubbock Christian opened play at the Lubbock Sports College Invitational, and their home schedule, with a pair of wins over MIAA programs. Taylor Franco had a one-hit complete-game shutout in a 7-0 win over Washburn, and followed with a 7-2 win over former Heartland Conference foe Newman Friday at PlainsCapital Park.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Game 1: LCU 7, WU 0 | Game 2: LCU 7, NU 2 
Records: LCU (3-2), WU (1-1), NU (0-2)
Location: Lubbock, Texas (PlainsCapital Park)
Time of Game: Game 1: 1:47 | Game 2: 1:59
Weather: Game 1: 57-Sunny, Wind – 11 to RF | Game 2: 60-Sunny Wind – 8 to RF

Game 1 vs. Washburn

LCU Highlights:

• Taylor Franco 7.0 ip, 0 er, 1 hit allowed.
• Brooke Makemson 2-for-4, two home runs.
• Savannah Wysocki 3-for-4

Turning Point:
The turning point of the game was not so much the turning point of the game, but the turning point of a special occasion which was building. LCU pitcher Taylor Franco had a perfect game going for 5.1 inning before Washburn sent in pinch-hitter Kamryn Garvie, who produced a single up the middle on the first pitch she saw. The hit ended Franco's not-hit and perfect game bid.

How it Happened:

• Makemson wasted no time getting LCU on the scoreboard first in her first at-bat of the first inning, blasting a pitch from freshman Jaycee Ginter over the centerfield fence for a two-run home run.
• LCU added to the 2-0 lead in the second inning with another two-run inning. Wysocki singled through the right side to plate Kamryn Gibbs. Skyler Herrera, the following batter, popped up in the infield, and Washburn shortstop Hadley Kerschen dropped the pop-up. The error allowed Athena Muniz to score to increase the LCU lead to 4-0.
• The Lady Chaps had some missed opportunities, leaving he bases loaded in the fourth inning, but they were able to add to their lead in the sixth inning. Makemson hammered a three-run home run off the new left field scoreboard and gave LCU the 7-0 lead they won by.

 
Inside the Numbers:

• The win placed LCU with a 14-0 all-time record in home openers. It was LCU's eight season opener to end in a shutout victory (second consecutive season with a shutout win in their home debut).
• Pitcher Taylor Franco improved to 2-1 on the season and has yet to allow an earned run in 20.0 innings pitched. Retiring the first 16 consecutive batters faced, Franco faced one batter (22) over the minimum (21). She pitched her 18^th complete game of her LCU career (third this season) and the one hit allowed was her best outing for at least 7.0 pitched (she had a five-inning no-hitter pitched on Feb. 15, 2019).
• Makemson matched her home run totals from last season (two) all in one game Friday, hitting her first multi-home run game as a member of the Lady Chaps. Her efforts marked the first multi-home run game by a Lady Chaps member since Alivia Villarreal homered twice against Texas A&M International on Apr. 26, 2019.
• The two homers by Makemson led to a career-high five-RBI performance. The total was the most by a Lady Chaps member since Morgan Dufour had six against Eastern New Mexico on Apr. 2, 2019.   
• The meeting was the first-ever meeting between the two programs.    

 
 
Game 2 vs. Newman

LCU Highlights:

• Alivia Villarreal was 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI.
• Brooke Makemson was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
• Dakota Stotyn went 7.0 innings and allowed one earned run.

Turning Point:
The Lady Chaps exploded for a seven-run second inning, which all began with a solo home run from Alivia Villarreal.

How it Happened:

• LCU sent 12 batters to the plate in the second inning, as LCU produced seven runs off nine hits in the inning. The Lady Chaps sent six batters to the plate with two outs. Makemson and Villarreal each drove in two runs in their at-bat in the second inning.
• LCU pitcher Dakota Stotyn had a no-hitter going for 4.2 innings, and a hit by Jessie Ornelas (the hit was nearly robbed by Kamryn Gibbs on a sliding catch attempt) into right field not only broke up the no-hit bid, but also put the Jets on the scoreboard.
• Emma Eck added another run for the Jets in the top of the sixth inning, hitting a sacrifice-fly RBI.  

Inside the Numbers:

• Pitcher Dakota Stotyn pitched to 26 of the 27 batters and earned her first win as member of the Lady Chaps. She went 7.0 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) off three hits.
• Chloe White and Gibbs each produced their first hit as a member of the Lady Chaps.
• LCU moved to 20-3 all-time against NU and the meeting was their first meeting since they were each members of the Heartland Conference.
• The Lady Chaps win improved them to 14-0 all-time in season openers.
• Villarreal's home run was her eighth career home run with the Lady Chaps.
• After going 0-for-6 in Friday's opener, in two-out at-bats, LCU was 6-of-12 Friday night in the category (Makemson was 2-for-3 in two-out at-bats). The two-out production led to four runs scoring in two-out at-bats.

Up Next:
LCU remains home Saturday, as Lubbock Sports College Invitational play continues with LCU facing Fort Hays State (1 p.m.) and Nebraska-Kearney (3 p.m.) at PlainsCapital Park.