Homers Carry LCU Past Red Hawks

GULF SHORES, Ala. (May 19, 2011) – Kim Frazer hit a pair of No. 7 Lubbock Christian University’s three home runs and the Lady Chaparrals opened pool play of the NAIA Softball Championship with a 14-6 run-rule victory Thursday night at Gulf Shores Sportsplex.

Frazier’s first home run came during a five run first inning and it followed Kayla Van Dieren’s two-run homer for a 3-0 lead.  The Lady Chaps loaded the bases later in the inning and Cori Enriquez was hit-by-pitch and Priscilla FaGaines walked, as the results added to the LCU lead.  The Lady Chaps, who combined for only one home run the entire 2010 championships, connected on their third home run of the game in the second inning with Kim Frazer sending a blast deep over the left-centerfield fence for her 21st home run of the season. 

LCU starting pitcher Meagan Navarrette did not allow a hit until the eighth batter she faced. Paige Gomez had the hit, and it eventually led to Gomez scoring and the Red Hawks scoring a pair of runs in the inning to cut LCU’s lead to 6-2.  Van Dieren led off the fourth inning with a triple and it jumpstarted a four-run inning and placed LCU’s lead to 10-2.  The Red Hawks answered back by batting around and producing six hits for four runs.  They loaded the bases and forced LCU to replace Navarrette with Amanda Longorio with the bases loaded to attempt the save.  Longorio got LCU out of the jam and LCU closed the game in walk-off style with a two run single by FaGaines in the bottom of the sixth inning to activate the run rule.

The Lady Chaps produced 16 hits in the win (on 32 at-bats), and had six multi-hit producers.  FaGaines (3-for-4) and Frazier (3-for-4) each co-led LCU with three hits each.  FaGaines led all players with three RBI.  Navarrette improved to 18-0 with the win and Longorio recorded her seventh save.  

LCU is now 51-9 on the season with the victory and Simpson dropped to 28-17.  The Lady Chaps return to action Friday facing defending champion Simon Fraser University at noon.