LUBBOCK, Texas (February 9, 2023) – The No.21 Lubbock Christian University and Chadron State College battled the elements of a windy cold front riffling through the South Plains, but up to the task was Lady Chaparrals pitcher
Taylor Franco, who held Chadron State hitless for the first 5.1 innings en route to a 3-0 LCU shutout victory at Maner Park.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: LCU 3, CSC 0
Records: LCU (5-1), CSC 1-1
Location: Lubbock, Texas (Maner Park)
Time of Game: 2:00
Weather: 50-Partly Cloudy (Wind – Gusting 29mph to 1B)
LCU Highlights:
Turning Point:
Kasey Flores' triple down the right field line, which setup LCU's second run of the game.
How it Happened:
After leaving a pair stranded in scoring position with one out in the top of the first inning, the Lady Chaps were able to get the opening run of the game in the bottom of the second inning, as
Berkeley Quinn led off with a single and stole first and second base to setup a RBI by
Victoria Owens, who plated Quinn with a groundout for a 1-0 lead.
The score remained 1-0 until
Kasey Flores hit a deep fly ball that was heading to the right-centerfield gap, but 30 MPH winds to it to the right field line. The Eagles right fielder scampered for it but was unable to make the running catch and Flores ended up with a triple. She scored on a two-out single by
Ally Oyanguren for a 2-0 lead.
Tiarra Delrosario provided LCU an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning with a two-out double to score pinch runner
Hanna Wells.
Chadron State went 5.1 innings without a hit, but tried to rally in the top of the seventh inning. Ashland Baca had Chadron State's second hit of the game and it followed a leadoff walk to send the tying run to the plate with no outs. A groundout and a pair of strikeouts by Franco sealed the shutout win.
Inside the Numbers:
- Taylor Franco increased her LCU program record total in career complete game shutouts to 23. She notched her 53rd career complete game (third this season) and the win has her with a 2-1 record this season and 58-25 in her career. Franco forced CSC into 10 groundouts and one fly-out.
- Kasey Flores's triple was her second of her LCU career and it was LCU's first triple of this season.
- LCU produced a season high in stolen bases with seven. Three were by Skylar Herrera, who matched a career high and ironically the last time she completed the task was on the same date in 2020 (Feb. 9) against New Mexico Highlands. Herrera's trio of swipes moved her into fifth all-time in program history in career stolen bases. She has 58, which moved her past Brittany Kent, who had 56 (2011-2012).
- Delaney Farnsworth suffered the loss for CSC (1-1). The freshman allowed three runs off seven hits and struck out five Lady Chaps.
- The Lady Chaps were 4-for-11 in two-out at-bats, while CSC was 0-for-8.
- At first pitch, the temperature was 50 degrees and partly cloudy skies with 29 MPH wind gusts from the north, but in the final inning, the temperature had dropped 10 degrees and the wind chill was at 31 degrees, as wind gusts howled to the upper 30s (MPH). The sun was nowhere to be found in the later innings.
HISTORICAL NOTE
LCU improved to 6-0 all-time against CSC and five of the six meetings have been in Lubbock. The shutout marked LCU's second-ever shutout against CSC.
WHAT'S NEXT:
The Lady Chaps plays a pair of games Friday in the Lubbock Sports College Invitational, which has them facing Emporia State at 1 p.m. and Adams State at 3 p.m. at Maner Park.
