LUBBOCK, Texas (February 12, 2023) – Taylor Franco became the 17^th player in NCAA Division II history to record six career no-hitters, as she completed the task with 10 strikeouts to help No.21 Lubbock Christian University claim a 5-0 win over Minot State in the final game of the Lubbock Sports College Invitational. The no-hit performance is the second for LCU in a three-game span, as Maxine Valdez pitched a complete game no-hitter Saturday. With Franco and Valdez each completing the task, it marks the third time in program history, and the second for Franco and Valdez (in consecutive seasons), in which multiple Lady Chaps have pitched complete game no-hitters in the same season.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: LCU 5, MiSU 0
Records: LCU (10-1), MiSU (5-4)
Location: Lubbock, Texas (Maner Park)
Time of Game: 1:40
Weather: 55-Fair/Sunny, Wind-4 MPH to CF

LCU Highlights:

• Taylor Franco – 7.0 innings no-hitter, 10 strikeouts
• Riley Lunsford – 1-for-2, RBI, HR
• Riley Flores– 2-for-3, 2 RBI

Turning Point:
In the third inning, with LCU leading 1-0, leadoff batter Leo Watson hit a ball up the middle in which LCU shortstop Skylar Herrera was able to get to and throw out Watson. It was a defensive play that was needed for a no-hit performance to take place.

How it Happened:
With one out in the bottom of the second inning, LCU's Riley Lunsford connected with an opposite-field home run for a 1-0 lead. The 1-0 lead carried until the fourth inning, as LCU added to the lead with a four-run frame. Lunsford led off the inning with a walk and Amanda Valdiviezo and Riley Flores followed with singles to scratch the first run of the inning. Kasey Flores had the most impactful hit in the inning, as she hit a two-out two-run bases-loaded single. The four-run inning provided LCU a 5-0 lead.

Inside the Numbers:

• Taylor Franco increased her LCU program record total in career complete game shutouts to 24 and no-hitters to six. She notched her 54^th career complete game (fourth this season) and the win has her with a 3-1 record this season and 59-25 in her career. Franco faced two batters over the minimum.
• Riley Lunsford hit her first home run of the season and she became the seventh Lady Chaps member to hit a dinger this season. The home run was also the first of the sophomore's collegiate career.
• Kasey Flores had a pair of RBI and now has a team-leading six multi-RBI games this season.
• Skylar Herrera reached base for an 11^th consecutive time (2-for-3 at the plate) to keep her streak alive of reaching base safely in every game this season.
• Herrera and Tiarra Delrosario (1-for-3) each had a hit to extend their hit streaks to seven games.
• Minot State was 0-for-7 in two-out at-bats, which placed LCU opponents 1-for-34 (.029) on the week in two-out at-bats (six games on the week).
• With her 2-for-3 performance with two RBI, Kasey Flores finished .500 (8-for-16) on the week with 16 total bases and seven RBI.
• LCU pitchers combined (on the week) for a 0.53 ERA and held opponents to a .091 batting average. They had 41 strikeouts in 34.0 innings.

 
HISTORICAL NOTE
LCU improved to 2-0 all-time against Minot State and Saturday's meeting marked their first in Lubbock. The Lady Chaps have outscored MiSU 13-0 all-time, as both wins have been shutout victories for LCU.
 
List of LCU No-Hitters
1. 2/13/08 - vs. University of the Southwest (Marissa Gonzalez)
2. 3/5/08 - vs. UT-Permian Basin (Marissa Gonzalez)
3. 3/19/08 - vs. Dordt College (Marissa Gonzalez)
4. 5/17/09 - vs. Shorter College (Alyssa Gutierrez)
5. 2/20/10 - vs. Northwestern Oklahoma St. University (Alyssa Gutierrez)
6. 4/19/10 - vs. Oklahoma Baptist University (Alyssa Gutierrez)
7. 4/12/11 - vs. University of the Southwest (Meagan Navarrette / Carollin Hall)
8. 4/12/11 - vs. University of the Southwest (Alyssa Freight / Amanda Longorio)
9. 3/16/12 - vs. Waldorf College (Sarah Mendez)
10. 4/1/12 - vs. Oklahoma Baptist University (Sarah Mendez)
11. 2/9/13 - vs. University of the Southwest (Katera Eltosie)
12. 2/16/13 - vs. Graceland University (Katera Eltosie)
13. 3/12/13 - vs. Mount Marty College (Tori Bayer)
14. 2/20/16 - vs. Clarke University (Katlyn Homes)
15. 3/21/17 - vs. Eastern New Mexico University (Katlyn Homes)
16. 2/20/18 - vs. St. Edward's University (Monique Francois)
17. 2/15/19 - vs. University of the Southwest (Taylor Franco)
18. 3/22/21 - vs. UT-Permian Basin (Maxine Valdez)
19. 2/10/22 - vs. Oklahoma Baptist (Taylor Franco)
20. 2/12/22 - vs. Northwestern Oklahoma State (Taylor Franco)
21. 3/20/22 - vs. UT-Permian Basin (Taylor Franco)
22. 3/27/22 - vs. No.1 UT Tyler (Taylor Franco)
23. 4/1/22 - vs. Texas Woman's (Maxine Valdez)
24. 2/11/23 - vs. Chadron State (Maxine Valdez)
25. 2/12/23 – vs. Minot State (Taylor Franco)

WHAT'S NEXT:
The Lady Chaps take a 10-1 record into Lone Star Conference play, as they host UT Tyler Friday at 1 p.m. to open LSC competition.