Lubbock Christian sweeps ENMU softball

PORTALES - The Eastern New Mexico University softball team finished strong in Tuesday's doubleheader. Lubbock Christian just started stronger.

The visiting Chaparrals did enough damage early in each end of a doubleheader at Greyhound Softball Field Tuesday to claim the biggest rout and the narrowest victory.

Lubbock Christian (19-9) was never challenged after posting 11 in the first inning for a 21-3 opening victory, but had to escape in the nightcap with a 9-8 win and ENMU's tying run stranded on third base.

Monique Francois improved to 13-3 on the season, starting in the opening blowout and pitching the final five innings of the second contest which saw the Greyhounds post three runs in the first and five runs in the seventh.

It didn't seem like it would end that way when the first two Greyhounds went down on seven pitches. But ENMU (13-18) started a rally when Precious Aguirre and Erikka Burke reached on consecutive Chaparral errors.

Then it went hit by pitch, throwing error, single, single, single and suddenly Ashley Lopez was the tying run at third base and Courtney Vigil represented the winning run.

Francois survived, though, fielding a Kianna Zerr grounder to end the threat.

First game - The Chaps left little doubt, sending 16 batters to the plate in an 11-run, 10-hit first inning that saw leadoff hitter Megan Darling go 2-for-2 before ENMU recorded an out.

Sydney Beuthein went 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles and four RBIs, while Lindzi Clemmer went 2-for-3 with a homer for Lubbock Christian.

Starter Hanna Gary was knocked out after allowing seven runs, all earned, on five hits without recording an out. Zerr took one for the team in the remaining five innings of relief, allowing 14 earned runs on 17 hits.

Zerr and Samantha Brockman each went 1-for-2 for ENMU, with Zerr hitting a two-run homer to center in the fifth.

The Greyhounds resume their Lone Star Conference schedule this weekend with a 5 p.m. Friday doubleheader at Texas Permian Basin.