No.5 LCU Suffers First Loss at No.10 SGU

SHAWNEE, Okla. (March 5, 2010) – It took some time for the No.5 Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals to get use to the pitching of St. Gregory’s University pitcher Sarah Bradley, but once they did, it was too late for the opener of the doubleheader and just right for the second game.  LCU had a rally fall short and fell 4-3 on the road to the No.10 Lady Cavaliers in the opening game, but rebounded to win the second game 6-0 in Sooner Athletic Conference action Friday afternoon.

The opening loss snapped a 16-game win streak for the Lady Chaps, but they nearly pulled out the win in the heavily windy conditions.  St. Gregory’s produced nine hits in the opening game and all were for singles.  They led 4-0 after the third inning and pitcher Sarah Bradley, who is the only pitcher the Lady Cavs have used in every game this season, was able to hold the Lady Chaps to just two hits through six innings.  The Lady Chaps all of a sudden got to her in the seventh innings.  The Lady Chaps scored three-runs on five hits, and nearly had their leading hitter, Kim Frazier, heading to the plate with an opportunity to tie the game, but a base running mistake cost the Lady Chaps the opportunity.  Alyssa Gutierrez, batting in front of Frazier, hit a two-out single up the middle, but Cori Enriquez tried to advance from first to third base and was thrown out at third base.

In the second game, LCU jumped out to a 1-0 lead with Clarissa Maldonado opening a 2-for-3 performance with her first of two RBI-hits in the second inning.  The Lady Chaps also took advantage of four errors in the fifth inning, as LCU scored five runs in the inning for a 6-0 lead.  LCU received the shutout with the pitching of Jori Rodgers and Gutierrez.  Rodgers improved to 7-0 on the season pitching 4 1/3 scoreless innings and allowing five hits.  Gutierrez pitched the final 2 2/3 innings to register the save.

LCU, now 17-1 on the season and 3-1 in the SAC, remains in Oklahoma Saturday for a noon doubleheader at Oklahoma Christian University.