Lady Chaps Fall to Bethel 3-1

DECATUR, Ala. (May 24, 2010) – A three-run home run by Kaitlyn Dubois with two outs in the fifth inning unlocked a 0-0 contest and helped Bethel College (Ind.) to a 3-1 upset over Lubbock Christian University, which advances Bethel out of pool play at the NAIA National Championship and ends the Lady Chaparrals season.

The two teams combined for just 11 hits, as LCU’s Alyssa Gutierrez and Bethel’s Kelli Zache did their best attempting to advance their squad.  In the bottom of the fifth inning, Emily Lamkin leaned into a pitch to reach base and Holly Weaver walked to place a pair of runners aboard.  The Lady Chaps almost got out of the jam, but Dubois sent the 1-1 offering over the left field fence for the game’s first runs.

LCU tried to answer in the sixth inning.  Jen Frazier hit her second single of the game and Kayla Van Dieren produced a single to place the tying run at first base.  Following Priscilla FaGaines striking out, Clarissa Maldonado got a hit past the infield and Daniela Garcia, running for Frazier, scored on the play.  Bethel sent in reliever Rachel Zirille to face Latainna Eltsosie and, after several line-shots foul, Zirille forced her into grounding out to end the threat. 

The Lady Chaps got out of a bottom of the sixth inning jam with no outs and the bases loaded by forcing a 1-2-3 double play, but they couldn’t do anything in the seventh inning.  LCU was retired in order and their season came to a close.

The season brings a close to four seniors, who all played an integral part in Monday’s game.  Garcia scored the lone run, Maldonado had the lone RBI produced, Jen Frazier had a multi-hit game and Alyssa Gutierrez pitched six innings and allowed three runs on six hits.  Gutierrez closes her LCU career with 66 wins and 7 losses.  Her winning percentage of 90.4% is an NAIA record, passing California Baptist’s Candice Thomas, who had an 89.0% winning percentage from 2004-2007.  She finishes with a 38-4 mark this season and her 38 wins currently stands fourth on the NAIA single season list. In her two seasons, she allowed 118 runs, which ties a career NAIA record for a pitcher with over 400 innings pitched.

Kim Frazier went without a hit and RBI in Alabama, but she finishes with 35 home runs, which is the second most in a season in all collegiate levels, setting an NAIA record.  She finished with a NAIA single season mark in runs-batted-in (106) and slugging percentage (1.238).

LCU’s final record for the season is 54-7, which is the same record as last season.  Unfortunately, this is the first season the Lady Chaps have been unable to advance out of pool play.  The Lady Chaps have made appearances at the National Championship in all three seasons of their existence and the Lady Chaps have an all-time record of 168-24 (87.5%).

TRACKING FRAZIER

NAIA SINGLE SEASON HOME RUN LEADERS

35, Kim Frazier, Lubbock Christian, 2010

NAIA SINGLE SEASON RBI LEADERS

106, Kim Frazier, Lubbock Christian, 2010

NAIA SINGLE SEASON SLUGGING PERCENTAGE RECORD

Frazier: 1.238, Kim Frazier, Lubbock Christian, 2010

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE SINGLE SEASON HOME RUN LEADERS

37, Laura Espinoza, Arizona (NCAA - Div. I), 1995

35, Kim Frazier, Lubbock Christian, 2010

NAIA SINGLE SEASON TOTAL BASES LEADERS

215, Tracey Mosley, Oklahoma City, 1995

213, Kim Frazier, Lubbock Christian, 2010

NAIA SINGLE SEASON RUNS LEADERS

94, Tracey Mosley, Oklahoma City, 1995

90, Melissa Dowlen, Athens State (Ala.), 1994

90, Kim Frazier, Lubbock Christian, 2010

NAIA SINGLE SEASON WALKS LEADERS

62, Laura Williams, Columbia (Mo.), 1989

49, Kim Frazier, Lubbock Christian, 2010