3/14/2022 | Softball | Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

LUBBOCK, TEXAS – #15 Lubbock Christian pitching proved to be too much for Eastern New Mexico softball in a doubleheader on Monday afternoon at PlainsCapital Park. LCU took game one 8-0 in five innings, while the Hounds fell in game two 6-1. The Greyhounds slip to 8-16, and 1-7 in LSC action. The Lady Chaps improve to 21-3 overall and 7-1 in the conference.

GAME ONE: LCU 8, ENMU 0 (5 Inn.)

The Lady Chaps started with an early run in the first inning, from the benefit of an ENMU error. With a runner on second and one out, a Lady Chaps baserunner took off for third and scored after the throw down escaped into foul territory, 1-0 LCU.

Eastern’s bats were held through the first three innings and LCU added to its lead in the third frame. After LCU put a runner on from an error, a single scored the run to make the score 2-0. Two more hits for Lubbock Christian scored the third run of the game after three innings, 3-0 LCU.

After a scoreless fourth inning, Azalea Martinez led off the fifth inning and broke up the LCU perfect game with a single up the middle. Martinez advanced to third base after two ENMU ground outs, but Eastern couldn’t send the runner home after a pop up ended the inning.

The Lady Chaps offense posted five extra base hits in the bottom of the fifth inning to end the contest. First, a triple and double scored one run forcing the Hounds into a pitching change. A double scored another run to push the score to 5-0, then a two-run homerun and solo home run ended the contest for the home team 8-0 after five innings.

NOTABLE STATS

  • Martinez had the only hit of the game with a single in the fifth inning. The Hounds put the ball in play 11 times, but LCU forced seven ground-outs and three fly-outs.
  • Brook Leger takes the loss giving up three runs (all unearned), from three hits with two strikeouts. Taylor Harrison threw 1.1 innings giving up two runs from three hits, Jordan Bowman faced three batters during the game.
  • Taylor Franco collects the win after five scoreless innings, giving up one hit and no walks.

GAME TWO: LCU 6, ENMU 1

ENMU got a base runner on in the first inning after a hit by pitch, but weren’t able to push the runner any further. LCU struck first in the opening inning after a single sent a runner home from third. Lubbock Christian tacked on two more runs in the second frame from three hits. Both RBI singles happened with two outs in the inning.

After a scoreless top of the third inning, the Lady Chaps used a triple to center and a ground out to send home the fourth run of the game. Lisette Urquidez broke up the no-hitter in the fourth inning sending a ball to center field. However, LCU turned a double play to eliminate the scoring threat from Eastern.

Lubbock Christian picked up two more runs in the fifth inning, taking the score to 6-0 LCU. After a scoreless sixth inning, Eastern picked up a consolation run in the seventh. Martinez worked a walk and took advantage of two wild pitches to score from first. The first wild pitch pushed Martinez to second, then Martinez took two bases on the following wild pitch. The game ended 6-1 in favor of Lubbock Christian.

NOTABLE STATS

  • Urquidez finished the day 1-2 at the plate with a base hit to center and reaching on a hit by pitch. Martinez scored the run for the Hounds after reaching on a walk and scoring on a wild pitch.
  • In the circle, Urquidez is handed the loss in 2.0 innings allowing three runs from five hits. Leger pitched the final four innings, finishing with three strikeouts, giving up three runs from five hits.
  • Maxine Valdez tossed 6.1 innings in the win, conceding one hit, one run, and two walks. Mattye Tyler pitched to the final three batters of the game, recording one strikeout in that time.

FROM THE SOURCE

“LCU is playing good ball right now, but it’s hard to compete when we don’t execute fundamental softball,” said Head Coach Amanda Fefel. “We have had too many miscues on defense that resulted in runs scored. If we eliminate those extra batters faced, we get out of a couple of big innings with no runs scored against us,” said Fefel. We need to get back to our aggressive approach at the plate and swing the bat the way we did in the first three weekends, and our defense needs to step up behind our pitchers and think one play ahead,” said Fefel.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

  • LCU takes the season series over the Hounds, 4-0, after taking the first doubleheader of the season between the two schools.
  • The Hounds head back to Portales, N.M. and prepare for two weekend series at Greyhound Softball Field. Eastern will take on Texas A&M-Kingsville on Friday, Mar. 18, with game one beginning at 3 pm. Then, the Hounds will battle Texas A&M-International on Sunday, Mar. 20, with game time expected to start at 11 am.