Frazier Sets NAIA Home Run Mark

CANYON, Texas (April 26, 2011) – Kim Frazier hit a pair of home runs for No. 7 Lubbock Christian University, which not only led them to a 4-3 road victory at NCAA Div.II No.23 West Texas A&M University, but it placed Frazier into the NAIA record books as the NAIA career home runs leader with 53 career home runs.  LCU was unable to garner a sweep Tuesday, dropping the second game of the doubleheader 6-4 to snap a 17-game win streak.

Frazier hit her first home run in her first at-bat, which came in the first inning with a runner aboard for a 2-0 lead.  The Lady Buffs tied the game up with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, only to have Frazier answer in the top of the sixth inning.  Frazier led off the inning with her 18^th home run of the season and the 53^rd of her LCU career for a 3-2 advantage.  Amanda Parsons produced a solo shot with two outs, which proved to be the difference, as LCU relief pitcher Amanda Longorio was shaky in the bottom of the seventh inning in putting the game away.  She claimed the save despite throwing three wild pitches, a passed ball, walking and hitting a batter all in the seventh inning.  WTAMU was able to get one run across in the seventh inning before Longorio regrouped to strikeout Christie Russell with the tying run at third base to end the game.

A junior from Buena Park, Calif., Frazier went 2-for-2 with 3 RBI to go along with her multi-home run performance.  Her 53 home runs moved her past Bellevue’s (Neb.) Lindsey Bredar, who hit 52 homers from 2002-05.  An impressive fact about Frazier’s feat is she snapped the record playing in just her second season in the NAIA and in her 111^th game.  Frazier set the NAIA’s single season home run record last season with 35 home runs.

Freshman Meagan Navarrette claimed the win in the circle to improve to 15-0 on the season.  She allowed five hits in six innings and struck out seven batters.  Longorio picked up her fifth save and struck out the side in the seventh inning for a trio of strikeouts.

All of LCU’s offense in the second game came in the third inning.  They trailed 1-0 entering the inning and produced five hits leading to four runs and a 4-1 advantage.  A trio of singles loaded the bases and LCU was able to get the merry-go-round going, as Andrea Argee hit an infield single to score a run before Kim Frazer and Amanda Parsons each walked to allow a pair of runs to score.  Melissa Hartkop also singled in a run with the bases loaded for LCU.  Starting pitcher Carollin Hall faced 16 batters without allowing a hit for LCU, but she ran into trouble in the fifth inning with two outs.  The hitless string came to an end with Alyssa Lemos hitting a home run for WTAMU.  After allowing an ensuing hit, Longorio replaced Hall in the circle.  Kim LeComte hit a double off Longorio and a wild pitch allowed the Lady Buffs to tie the game at 4-4.  In the sixth inning, WTAMU produced a trio of singles to load the bases and Kasey Henderson walked to give WTAMU a 5-4 lead.  A ground out by LeComte extended the lead to 6-4. 

Longorio claimed her first loss of the season (8-1), as she allowed three runs in 1.1 innings and walked a trio of runners.  She produced a program single-game high four wild pitches.  WTAMU’s Shelbey Cockrell claimed the win in the circle, pitching 4.2 scoreless innings in relief.  She allowed two hits and improved to 19-6.

The doubleheader split places LCU’s overall record at 44-6 and moves WTAMU to 37-14.  The Lady Chaps six-game road trip is completed and they return home Saturday to host Southern Nazarene University for a noon doubleheader at PlainsCapital Park.