LUBBOCK, Texas (March 13, 2024) – Skylar Herrera became the fourth Lubbock Christian University to achieve 40 career home runs Wednesday, while Taryn Westbrook pitched LCU's third consecutive complete game shutout, and the Lady Chaparrals completed the Lone Star Conference series sweep with a 7-0 win at Maner Park.
Westbrook (3-2) went the distance for Lubbock Christian (14-11, 13-8), giving up six hits, striking out three batters and did not offer any free passes.
Offensively, the Lady Chaps were led by Skylar Herrera, who went 3-for-3 on the day with a home run and three RBI. Tiarra Delrosario also contributed for Lubbock Christian, putting together two hits in three trips to the plate while adding a walk and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lady Chaps did not score in the first inning for the first time in the series, but they made up for it with a four-run second inning with all four scoring with two outs. Delrosario opened the scoring with a seeing-eye single before Herrera blasted a three-run home run. The Lady Chaps made it 6-0 in the fifth inning with Ally Oyanguren highlighting the frame with a double off the base of the left field wall. Victoria Owens hit a pinch-hit home run to close the scoring in the sixth inning.
GAME NOTES
» Westbrook tossed a six-hit shutout for the Lady Chaps. It was the first complete game and first shutout of the season for Westbrook, who was making her fifth start of the season.
» The shutout was the fifth of the season for LCU and they have an active sequence of shutouts in three consecutive games. The last time LCU had three consecutive shutouts was March 19-21, 2021, as LCU had a sequence of four consecutive shutouts in that stretch.
» Herrera hit her team-leading seventh home run of the season and the 40th of her LCU career. She becomes the fourth Lady Chaps player to hit at least 40 home runs in her LCU career, joining Kim Frazier(76), Sydney Beuthien (47) and Morgan Colburn (43).
» With Westbrook not issuing a walk, LCU only allowed two walks in 17.0 innings pitched in the series. They had an 8-2 advantage in walks in the series and their pitching staff had 21 strikeouts and two walks in the 17.0 innings.
» The Chaparrals out-hit the Mustangs at a 10-6 clip.
» Lubbock Christian pitchers faced 28 Western New Mexico hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and four fly balls while striking out three.
» Herrera, who has hit safely in seven consecutive games, led the Chaparrals at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. The three hits marked her seventh multi-hit game of the season, and the multi-RBI game was her fifth of the season.
» Victoria Owens popped up in a pinch-hit at-bat, but communication between infielder led to the ball not only going untouched but it spun the ball foul on the bounce. She took advantage with the at-bat extended, as the next pitch was sent over the right-centerfield wall for a solo home run. It was the second-year Lady Chap's first career home run. She became the ninth different Lady Chaps member to homer this season.
» Western New Mexico was led offensively by Ramona Fossum, who went 3-for-3.
» Delrosario was able to extend her hit streak to 24 consecutive games and she reached base for a 25th consecutive game (all games this season). Oyanguren is right behind Delrosario, reaching base safely in 23 consecutive games.
» LCU hit .397 as a team in the series, with Herrera (6-for-8, .750) and Delrosario (6-for-9, .667) each producing six hits in the series. Herrera, who went 3-for-3 in the series with runners in scoring position, had five RBI and joined Hope Banales with each obtaining nine total bases in the series.
» Delrosario picked up three base hits in the game for Lubbock Christian. She leads LCU with 10 multi-hit games on the season.
» The win improved LCU to 18-0 all-time against WNMU and 13-0 against the mustangs at home. LCU registered their nine shutout win all-time against WNMU and they have nine shutouts over a 13-game span.
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU returns to I-35 this weekend. The Lady Chaps, who were in San Antonio, Texas last week, head to Austin, Texas Saturday to face St. Edward's for a noon doubleheader to kickoff a three-game LSC series.
