COSTA MESA, Calif. (February 10, 2026) – Behind a historic perfect game from Natalee Gray and a pair of shutout performances in the circle, Lubbock Christian University closed its California swing in dominant fashion Tuesday, sweeping Vanguard University in a doubleheader at VU Softball Field. Gray authored the second perfect game in program history to lead a 4–0 victory in the opener, while Kendall Ward followed with a complete-game shutout as the Lady Chaps completed the sweep with a 6–0 win, giving LCU two shutouts in the same day and continued momentum heading into Lone Star Conference play.
 
GAME 1
Lubbock Christian University received a historic perfect-game performance from Natalee Gray and used a late offensive surge to blank Vanguard, 4–0, in the opening game of Tuesday's doubleheader at VU Softball Field.
 
Gray (2–0) retired all 21 batters she faced to record LCU's first no-hitter of the season and the second perfect game in program history, as the Lady Chaps improved to 3–6 while Vanguard slipped to 6–6. Gray struck out three and needed just 73 pitches to complete the masterpiece, which also marked her second career no-hitter, the 32nd no-hitter in LCU softball history and the 19th since the Lady Chaps became full NCAA members.
 
Offensively, LCU finished with 10 hits and was led by freshman Julie Muniz, who went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI, while Kadin Vire added two hits, including a triple, and an RBI. Lexi Clark chipped in an RBI single, and pinch hitter Kenzie Kauk delivered a key run-scoring single. Vanguard starter Vanessa Robles (3–1) took the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) over 4.2 innings, while Mia Iacomini and Mari Ipatzi combined to finish the game in the circle.
 
Gray's historic outing came with an added layer of significance, as LCU Hall of Honor member and 2008 national champion Marissa Gonzalez — who threw the program's first perfect game (March 19, 2008 vs. Dordt) — was in attendance in California to witness Gray become the only other pitcher in school history to achieve perfection.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both pitchers dominated early, as Gray and Robles traded zeros through the first four innings. Gray faced the minimum in each frame, inducing a steady mix of flyouts and groundouts, while Robles worked around a pair of LCU baserunners in the second and third innings to keep the game scoreless.
 
LCU broke through in the top of the fifth. After Alexis Pacheco was retired to start the inning, Piper Garcia doubled to left-center to spark the rally. Muniz followed with a double to right field to plate Garcia for the game's first run. Kauk then pinch hit and singled through the right side to score Muniz, with the run ruled unearned. Castillo, who re-entered and ran for Kauk, stole second and later scored when Vire singled to second base, giving the Lady Chaps a 3–0 advantage.
 
LCU added an insurance run in the seventh. Muniz singled through the left side and advanced to second on a groundout. Clark then lined a single into right-center to bring Muniz home for a 4–0 lead.
 
Meanwhile, Gray continued to mow down Vanguard's lineup, retiring the final nine hitters she faced and closing the game with a trio of groundouts in the seventh to seal the perfect game.
The Lady Chaps finished error-free defensively, while Vanguard's lone miscue came in the second inning. LCU stranded just five runners, capitalizing on timely extra-base hits and aggressive baserunning to complement Gray's dominant performance in the circle.
 
GAME NOTES
» Julie Muniz made her first career start and went 2-for-3 with a double and RBI. She joined Kadin Vire (2-for-3), as the two had LCU's multi-hit performances in the game.  
 
» The contest marked LCU's first true road game of the season, and the win provided LCU their win in a road-opener since a 9-0 win at Midwestern State in their first road game of the 2023 season. The last time LCU opened with a non-conference road win was in 2022, as LCU defeated Southern Nazarene in Bethany, Okla.
 
» The win was LCU's first shutout win of the season.
 
» The Lady Chaps produced 10 hits, which marked their third game of the season with at least 10 hits.
 
» Vanguard was last no-hit on April 4, 2025.
 
GAME 2
LCU scored twice in the first inning and broke the game open with a four-run seventh to secure a 6-0 shutout of Vanguard in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader at the VU Softball Field.
 
Kendall Ward tossed a complete-game shutout in the circle, while the Lady Chaps (4-6) collected eight hits and capitalized on a late defensive miscue to pull away from the Lions (6-7).
 
Ward (1-1) earned the win after going the distance, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out two across seven scoreless innings.
 
Vanguard starter Lauren Cantwell (1-3) took the loss, surrendering six runs (five earned) on eight hits and four walks in 6.1 innings of work.
 
Offensively, Lubbock Christian was paced by Coryn Burris, who went 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored, and Brianna Chambers-Lee, who delivered a two-run double in the seventh. Ashlinn Hamilton added two hits and an RBI, while Kadin Vire reached base twice, scored two runs and doubled.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Lubbock Christian struck quickly in the top of the first. After Lexi Clark grounded out to open the game, Kadin Vire doubled to left-center and moved into scoring position. Coryn Burris followed with an RBI double to left-center to plate Vire, and Burris later scored when Ashlinn Hamilton singled through the right side, giving the Lady Chaps a 2-0 advantage.
 
Vanguard threatened in the bottom of the first when Kamryn Walker and Adriana Portillo recorded back-to-back singles, but Ward worked out of the jam, retiring the next hitter to keep the Lions off the board. Both pitchers settled in from there, as neither team scored over the next five innings.
 
Ward continued to work efficiently, allowing only two hits from the second through the sixth while inducing weak contact and stranding runners in scoring position. Lubbock Christian also had opportunities to extend the lead but was held in check by Cantwell, who kept the deficit at two entering the seventh.
 
The Lady Chaps put the game away in the top of the seventh. Julie Muniz opened the inning with a single, and Cat Prisock followed with a base hit to left. Lexi Clark reached on a fielder's choice, and Kadin Vire drew a walk to load the bases. Burris then reached on an error by the second baseman, allowing Clark and Prisock to score. Brianna Chambers-Lee capped the rally moments later with a two-run double down the left-field line, pushing the lead to 6-0.
 
Ward closed the door in the bottom of the seventh by retiring the side in order, securing the complete-game shutout and completing Lubbock Christian's second consecutive shutout victory of the day.
 
GAME NOTES
» The Lady Chaps produced a second consecutive shutout win, for their first set of consecutive shutouts this season.
 
» Kendall Ward, who has a win and two saves in her three latest appearances, made her fourth career start and went the distance for the second time in her career. It marked her first complete game shutout in her career.
 
» Ashlinn Hamilton went 2-for-4, generating LCU's only multi-hit performance.
 
» LCU went consecutive games without an error for the first time this season.
 
» The Lady Chaps are now 4-1 in their last five games and went 4-3 in their seven-game trip to California.

HISTORY LESSON
LCU went improved to 2-1 all-time in games against Vanguard, as the teams were meeting for the first time since meeting Mar. 14, 2011 at the Tucson Invitational Games in Arizona. LCU improved to 6-3 all-time against PacWest programs
 
NO-HIT HISTORY
Gray's no-hitter is LCU's first of the season… It marked the first LCU no-hitter against a nonconference foe since Taylor Franco no-hit Minot State on Feb. 12, 2023… The feat marked the 19^th no-hitter in LCU history completed since LCU became full members of the NCAA… Along with Marissa Gonzalez in attendance, who had three no-hitters in the 2008 season, was Alyssa Gutierrez, who also pitched for LCU and had a trio of no-hitters pitched (2009 – 10).
 
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)
26. 3/8/23 - vs. Eastern New Mexico (Taylor Franco)
27. 3/17/23 - vs. St. Mary's (Maxine Valdez)
28. 4/12/23 - vs. Cameron (Maxine Valdez)
29. 4/28/23 - vs. UT-Permian Basin (Taylor Franco)
30. 4/28/23 - vs. UT-Permian Basin (Maxine Valdez)
31. 4/11/25 - vs. UT-Permian Basin (Natalee Gray)
32. 2/10/26 – vs. Vanguard (Natalee Gray)
 
WHAT'S NEXT
LCU jumps into LSC play and opens conference play Sunday at 1 p.m. at Mustang Field in Wichita Falls, Texas facing Midwestern State.