April 13, 2011

Story courtesy of Lubbock Christian Sports Information

LUBBOCK, Texas – While No.11 Lubbock Christian University (Texas) combined to out-score University of the Southwest (N.M.) 35-0 Tuesday, the pitching staff stole the headlines with a pair of combined no-hitters at PlainsCapital Park.  Meagan Navarrette and Carollin Hall combined for the no-hitter in a 20-0 win in the opener and Alyssa Freight and Amanda Longorio combined for the no-hitter in a 15-0 final to complete the doubleheader sweep. 

In the opener, Navarrette started and pitched the first two innings and struck out three batters.  Head coach Daren Hays preplanned to have Navarrette and Hall split the pitching duties, and Hall took over in the circle in the third inning. Hall recorded four strikeouts in the three innings she pitched.

By the time Hall took the circle in the third inning, the Lady Chaps already built a 14-0 lead.  LCU had six runs off five hits in the first inning, with a Brittany Kent bases loaded triple clearing the bases to highlight the scoring.  The Lady Chaps had six hits in the second inning leading to eight runs.  Kayla Van Dieren produced a two-run triple and Priscilla FaGaines knocked in a pair with a double in the scoring surge. LCU continued the scoring trend in the third inning with a trio of runs and scored three more in the fifth.  Kirstie Cochran pinch hit in the fifth inning and hit a triple and eventually scored when a throw to third base got away. 

LCU had 19 hits in the opener with four each coming from Van Dieren (4-for-4) and Latainna Eltsosie (4-for-4). Kent finished the game with five runs-batted-in.  Hall improved to 8-4 with the victory. 

Freight started the second game for LCU in the circle.  In three innings, she walked a batter and struck out a batter.  Longorio pitched the final two innings and struck out four batters.

Andrea Argee scored Van Dieren on a double for the first run of the game in the first inning for an opening 1-0 lead.  LCU added to the lead with nine runs scored in the second inning.  The Lady Chaps produced seven hits in the inning, including a bases-loaded double by FaGaines, which allowed three runs to score.  Van Dieren followed with a two-run home run.  FaGaines hit a two-run home run in a five-run third inning to complete a five RBI performance.

Van Dieren finished the second game 3-for-3 with a pair of runs-batted-in to help combine for a 7-for-7 afternoon with four RBI.  Stephanie Rendon compiled 3 RBI in the game with a 2-for-2 performance.  LCU had 15 hits in the game.  The win was awarded to Freight and she improves to 9-2 on the season.  She has pitched scoreless baseball her last 21.1 innings.

The combined no-hitters were the first combined in program history, and they were the seventh and eighth overall no-hitters in program history.  Three of LCU’s no-hitters, including the first, which came in the first game in program history, have been thrown against USW.

LCU improved to 37-6 overall on the season.  They have won their last ten games and they improved to 12-0 at home.  USW fell to 12-24 overall with the pair of losses.  The Lady Chaps return to action Saturday hosting Oklahoma Christian University at noon.

LIST OF LCU NO-HITTERS

2/13/08 – vs. University of the Southwest (Marissa Gonzalez)

3/5/08 – vs. UT-Permian Basin (Marissa Gonzalez)

3/19/08 – vs. Dordt College (Marissa Gonzalez)

5/17/09 – vs. Shorter College (Alyssa Gutierrez)

2/20/10 – vs. Northwestern Oklahoma St. University (Alyssa Gutierrez)

4/19/10 – vs. Oklahoma Baptist University (Alyssa Gutierrez) 

4/12/11 – vs. University of the Southwest (Meagan Navarrette / Carollin Hall)

4/12/11 – vs. University of the Southwest (Alyssa Freight / Amanda Longorio)