April 13, 2009

Story courtesy of Lubbock Christian Sports Information Office

LUBBOCK, Tex. - In just their 114th game in program history, the No.3 Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals softball team claimed their 100th all-time victory with a 9-0 win over the team they defeated in their first game to debut the program. University of the Southwest.  The win was the first game of a doubleheader at PlainsCapital Park, which was swept by the Lady Chaps following a 9-1 victory in the second game.  The 100th win was also celebrated by head coach Shanon Hays, who shares the program's record as his career coaching record.

After finishing with a 60-10 record and claiming a NAIA national title in their inaugural season a year ago, the Lady Chaps are now 41-4 this season following the two wins and are 101-14 all-time.

LCU out-hit the Mustangs 13-3 in the opener with Alyssa Gutierrez holding the Mustangs to three hits in four innings while striking out seven of the 14 batters faced to improve to 20-2 on the season.  She becomes the second pitcher in the NAIA this season to achieve 20 wins behind Jenny Johnson (23) of Rogers State.  Offensively, the Lady Chaps opened their scoring with a three-run second inning, with two of the runs scored on a pair of wild pitches combined with an error before Honda Rodriguez hit a RBI single.  LCU added a run in the third inning and produced a five-run fifth inning.  Ginalee Davis and Gutierrez each produced a pair of runs with singles and Sabrina Hernandez completed the scoring with a double.

In the second game, it was Kelly Grieg's chance to mow down the USW batters.  She pitched all five innings for the complete game and allowed an unearned run on just two hits, while striking out 11 of the18 batters faced.  LCU built a 4-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first and second innings.  Griego produced a two-run double to open the scoring and Rodriguez hit a two-run home run to make up the 4-0 lead.  After the Mustangs scored their lone run of the day in the top half of the fourth inning on a defensive miscue, the Lady Chaps tallied a three-run bottom half of the inning.  Raquel Hawkins supplied the runs with a three-run home run for a 7-1 lead.  LCU closed out the contest in the bottom of the fifth inning with a pair of runs. Hernandez brought in a run with a double and Jade Espinoza closed the game with a single to right field to score Clarissa Maldonado.

The Lady Chaps become the second team this season to garner 40 wins in the NAIA.  They return to action Friday hosting Saint Gregory's at 1 p.m.