Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 LUBBOCK, Texas (February 27, 2022) – Taylor Franco combined for 8.1 shutout innings and garnered a pair of victories, as the Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaps swept Eastern New Mexico 8-0 (six innings) and 5-1 in a Sunday set of non-conference games at PlainsCapital Park.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score:  Game 1: LCU 8, ENMU 0 (Final in 6 inn.) | Game 2: LCU 5, ENMU 1
Records: LCU (14-2), ENMU (7-8)
Location: Lubbock, Texas (PlainsCapital Park)
Time of Game: Game 1: 1:47, Game 2: 2:25
Weather: Game 1: 51F, Sunny/Calm, 56F, Sunny/Calm

Game 1

LCU Highlights:

• Taylor Franco – 6.0 innings (complete game), 3 hits allowed, 6 strikeouts, shutout
• Brooke Makemson – 3-for-4, 3 RBI, 2B,
• Kasey Flores – 1-for-1, 2 RBI, HR

Turning Point:
LCU stumbled after loading the bases in the first inning with one out and only scoring one run as part of a two-run inning (left the bases loaded), but in the second inning, Brooke Makemson drove in a pair of runs with a single for a 4-0 advantage.

How it Happened:
Savannah Wysocki led off the bottom of the first inning with a double and scored on an RBI-single from Makemson. ENMU starting pitcher Taylor Harrison was unable to get out of the first inning, as a trio of walks allowed LCU to take a 2-0 lead, as Flores drew a bases-loaded walk and was Harrison's final batter faced.
 
Wysocki walked in the second inning and was joined on the base paths by Tiarra Delrosario, which set a two-run single by Makemson for a 4-0 advantage. The lead was extended to 5-0 an inning later with Flores connecting with a leadoff solo blast to left field.
 
The Lady Chaps closed the game in the sixth inning, as they produced four hits, with Angela Donaldson, Athena Muniz and Kamryn Gibbs contributing two-out RBI-singles to activate the run-rule.   
    

Inside the Numbers:

• Taylor Franco improved to 7-0 on the season. The complete game shutout marked her 39^th career complete game (fifth of the season) and she claimed her 17^th career shutout (third of the season). She is three shutouts away from passing Alyssa Gutierrez (2009-10) and Katera Eltsosie (2014-17), who each had 19 career shutouts in program history. Franco's 17 career shutouts is tied for seventh among active NCAA Division II pitchers. 
• Franco closed the game not allowing a hit to the last 10 batters she faced. She forced ENMU into nine ground outs and they did not have a fly-out.
• Kasey Flores' home run was her fifth of the season and her 28^th career home run. She is tied for 20^th in active career home leaders in NCAA Division II.
• Tyla Lee had 13-game hot streak end. It is the longest streak by a Lady Chaps member this season.
• LCU had 16 at-bats with runners in scoring position and went 3-for-16 in those at-bats. Five different players had a hit in the scenario, with Brooke Makemson going 2-for-3 in the at-bats.
• ENMU did not have an error, marking the first time this season an LCU opponent did not have an error.

 
Game 2

LCU Highlights:

• Skylar Herrera – 2-for-3, RBI, two stolen bases
• Tyla Lee – 2-for-3, RBI
• Taylor Franco – 2.1 innings of relief, no runs allowed off four hits

Turning Point:
In the top of the fifth inning and the score tied 1-1, the Greyhounds had two in scoring position, with Lisette Urquidez at the plate (she was 2-for-2 heading into the at-bat). LCU went to the bullpen and replaced starting pitcher Maxine Valdez with Taylor Franco, who struck out Urquidez to keep from trailing in the game. LCU went on to score five unanswered runs.

How it Happened:
The Greyhounds took the first lead of the game in the top of the fourth inning, as a leadoff double by Urquidez set up a two-out single by Bella Mendoza.
 
LCU tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning, but not without controversy. The Lady Chaps, on a double-steal attempt, had Riley Lunsford initially called out at home, but the umpires ruled obstruction. Lunsford was placed back at third base until a 15-minute umpire delay to discuss rule-interpretation resulted in Lunsford being awarded home and the game was tied 1-1.
 
ENMU pitcher Brook Leger had six strikeouts through five innings, but she hit trouble in the fifth inning. LCU had four hits in the inning, with two-out base hits by Lee and Herrera, following a sacrifice fly from Makemson, led to a three-run inning and a 4-1 lead. The Lady Chaps made it 5-1 in the sixth inning with a two-out RBI-single from Hannah Wells.

Inside the Numbers:

• Franco (improved to 8-0 and claimed her 43^rd career win) made her second relief outing of the season and pitched 2.1 shutout innings. She had 8.1 scoreless innings on the day and now has 24.1 scoreless innings pitched at home. Franco also force five groundouts to finished the day with 14 groundouts and no fly-outs.
• Valdez started the game and went without a decision after allowing a run off four hits in 4.2 innings. She had four strikeouts.
• The Lady Chaps improved to 6-0 when scoring in the first inning and 9-1 when scoring first. LCU has outscored opponents 19-4 in the first inning this season (5-2 this weekend).
• Savannah Wysocki drew five walks on the day and three in the game. ENMU pitchers walked 12 LCU batters on the day and Kasey Flores (first game) joined Wysocki with three-walk games on the day.
• Skylar Herrera was 2-for-2 in at-bats with runners in scoring position.
• With a pair of hits, Tyla Lee notched her team-leading ninth multi-hit game. Lee leads LCU with an active 15-game streak reaching base safely.
• Tiarra Delrosario went 1-for-3 and actively leads LCU with a nine-game hit streak.
• LCU improved to 7-0 at home on the season.

 
HISTORICAL NOTE
LCU improved to 37-0 all-time against ENMU and LCU is 17-0 all-time against ENMU at PlainsCapital Park.
 
WHAT'S NEXT:
LCU opens their Lone Star Conference schedule Friday at 2 p.m. in Oklahoma City facing Oklahoma Christian with a doubleheader.