The Duster Today

Media Credit: Marcom Photo The Lady Chaps have a lot to smile about so far in 2008.

The storylines of the first-year Lubbock Christian University softball program continue to get better and better as their inaugural season gets into full swing. LCU, which won their first game in program history with a no-hitter, defeated the #1 ranked Oklahoma City University Stars 9-1 in a run-rule shortened contest for their first Sooner Athletic Conference game Friday at PlainsCapital Park. The Lady Chaps fell in the second game 8-5, but a split of the series is a huge statement for head coach Shanon Hays' program.

Kelly Griego's walk-off home run in the bottom of the fifth inning sealed the opening contest 9-1 and shocked the top ranked Stars. The home run was one of four hit in the opening contest for the Lady Chaps. Ginalee Davis started it off for the Lady Chaps with a three-run home run in first inning. Oklahoma City scored their lone run of the game in the second inning with Katie Carrol singling in Mindy Crabaugh. LCU went on to score three runs in the second inning off a trio of hits to jump out 6-1. Solo home runs by Sabrina Hernandez, Raquel Hawkins and Griego carried the Chaps the rest of the way. Davis finished the game two-for-two with four runs-batted-in. Marissa Gonzalez pitched all five innings in the circle without giving up an earned run and struck out six batters. She improved to 3-0 with the win. Ashley Wilburn suffered the loss for OCU, giving up four runs in 3.1 innings pitched.

In game two, it was OCU that came out with a quick start. A sacrifice fly scored Melody Murphy, who had tripled to get aboard, in the first for a 1-0 lead. The Stars added to it with a four-run second inning. A two-run double in the second by Erin Slettvet highlighted the inning for the Stars, who built the lead to 5-0. Back-to-back home runs produced by Amanda Parsons and Gabby Woody put the Lady Chaps right back into the contest trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the second inning. OCU was able to get a run back in the top half of the third inning before LCU exploded with a three-run third inning highlighted by a two-run producing triple by Parsons and a home run by "Honda" Rodriguez. The 6-5 deficit would be as close as the Lady Chaps would get, as reliever Elizabeth Oberst shut the door the rest of the way. She claimed the win allowing four hits in 4.1 innings pitched and did not allow a run to score. Griego suffered the loss allowing five hits and four earned runs in two innings pitched.

LCU improves to 5-1 with a split in the series, and they open SAC play with a conference record of 1-1. The Lady Chaps will return to action on February 29th with a conference game against Oklahoma Christian at PlainsCapital Park.

Article Tools