LUBBOCK, Texas – Late runs in both games helped Lubbock Christian take both games of a doubleheader against Eastern New Mexico Softball on Saturday afternoon at Manor Park. In the opening game, the Lady Chaps scored two runs in the sixth inning, taking the game 8-6. During the second game, LCU mounted a big comeback victory, winning on a walk-off 8-7.
GAME ONE: LCU 8, ENMU 6
Both offenses started scoring in the 1
st inning. ENMU plated three runs, while LCU responded with four. For the Greyhounds,
Christina Meneses brought home the first run with a two-out double, with Meneses scoring later in the inning on a wild pitch.
Grace Rofii ended the scoring with a RBI double, 3-0 ENMU. The lead was short lived, as the Lady Chaps scored four runs in the opening inning.
The Chaps and Greyhounds traded runs between the 4
th and 6
th innings. LCU picked one run in the 4
th inning, while each team grabbed a run in the 5
th and two runs each in the 6
th. Eastern tied up the game with two runs in the 6
th, with Meneses posting an RBI single and ENMU scoring a run on a fielding error. However, LCU scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 8-6 lead, and held onto the lead with a 1-2-3 top of the 7th.
NOTABLE STATS
- Meneses led ENMU in the batter's box, going 4-4 with a double and a pair of RBIs. Valeria Contreras and Alondra Vasquez both added a pair of hits, as Vasquez scored twice during the game.
- In the circle for the Greyhounds, Marissa Rodriguez started the game, going 5.1 innings in the loss. Rodriguez allowed eight runs on eight walks and nine hits. Jordan Rivera faced four batters in a relief appearance, giving up one hit while recording two outs.
- Teoni Lamb started the game for LCU, lasting 5.0 innings, but Emily Dix was the winning pitcher, throwing 1.0 inning of relief. Kendall Ward garnered a save, getting the final three outs in the Chaparrals win.
GAME TWO: LCU 8, ENMU 7
Eastern led by as many as seven runs, scoring three runs in the opening inning. After two singles and a walk loaded the bases, Rofii singled back up the middle to score a pair of runs, then
Miranda Guillen provided a single of their own to score the third run of the inning. After empty innings in the 2
nd, 3
rd, and 4
th, the Greyhounds supplied four runs in the 5
th inning, scoring all the runs with two outs. Three straight batters reached base, then
Alexa Ayala provided a pinch hit single to get ENMU their first run of the inning. Then, Rodriguez came in as a pinch hitter and singled to bring home two runs, while a third runner crossed the plate after a rundown in the infield.
However, Lubbock Christian mounted the comeback picking up one run in the 5
th, and five runs in the 6
th frame. In the 6
th, a two-run home run made the score 7-3, while three RBI hits made the score 7-6 ENMU going into the 7
th. Two leadoff singles put the winning run on base in the bottom of the 7
th, then two more singles tied the game at 7-7. Later, a sacrifice fly completed the comeback for Lubbock Christian, winning 8-7.
NOTABLE STATS
- Seven different Greyhounds recorded a base hit, with Miranda Guillen going 2-2 during the contest. Rofii led the way with a pair of RBIs, as seven different Greyhounds scored a run.
- ENMU had three different pitchers take the circle, with relief pitcher Cierra Smith taking the loss. Guillen started the game, being charged with three runs over five innings with eight walks and four strikeouts. Smith allowed five runs over one inning, with Rivera going 0.2 innings and facing two batters.
- Natalee Gray started the game for Lubbock Christian, being charged for all seven runs from eight hits. Reese Farrar earned the win, recording seven straight outs with three K's.
Eastern look to bounce back, facing #4 Angelo State in San Angelo on Sunday, March 16. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. (MST).
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