HOBBS, N.M. – The Louisiana Christian University softball team smashed seven home runs on its way to a pair of wins over the Southwest Mustangs, taking game one 12-2 in six innings and pulling out an 8-7 win in game two Friday afternoon at Baker Field.
 
Game 1 – Louisiana Christian 12, Southwest 2 (6 inn.)
 
Louisiana Christian (11-11, 3-5 RRAC) had the big bats out in game one as the Wildcats smashed six home runs and two doubles off the Southwest pitching staff in the opener.
 
Cecilia Bookman got the blast party going as she got LCU's first home run of the season in the second inning, a two-run blast to put the Wildcats up 2-0.
 
In the third inning, Isabella Battaglia smashed a solo shot to make it 3-0.
 
Southwest (2-14, 0-8 RRAC) tried to get back in it with a pair of runs in the fourth to make it 3-2 Wildcats.
 
But the Wildcats put it away in the next two innings. In the fifth, Lexi Broussard and Madelyn Bourgoyne both went yard with solo shots to make it a 3-run game again at 5-2.
 
LCU then blew it completely open in the sixth. With one out, Myah Talbert and Kate Daigle went back-to-back with solo shots. Broussard kept the rally going as she doubled in Mariel Medrano from second. After stealing third, Broussard came home on Maci Baldwin's sacrifice fly to right field.
 
After Battaglia and Bourgoyne singles and Christina Curtis walked to load the bases with two outs, Bookman delivered with a bases-clearing double to center, scoring all three base runners for a 12-2 lead at the inning's conclusion.
 
With no response from the Mustangs in the bottom of the inning, the run-rule was enacted, ending the game.
 
Six different Wildcats had two hits apiece in the opener – Broussard, Battaglia, Bourgoyne, Bookman, Talbert, and Daigle. All of which also hit their first home runs of the season in the contest.
 
Bookman had the most productive bat of all, going 2-for-4 with the home run, a double, five RBI, and scored a run.
 
Broussard was 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, was hit by a pitch, stole two bases, knocked in two runs, and scored twice.
 
Battaglia was 2-for-4 with a home run, a RBI, and run scored.
 
Bourgoyne was 2-for-4 with a home run, a run scored, and two RBI.
 
Olivia Falcon (5-4) threw all six innings in the circle to pick up the win. She allowed just one hit and two runs, one earned, with 10 strikeouts and four walks.
 
Game 2 – Louisiana Christian 8, Southwest 7
 
Both teams struck big in the third inning to open the scoring. LCU opened it as Broussard hit her second home run of the day, this one a two-run blast to put the Wildcats up 2-0.
 
Curtis then doubled the lead as she dropped a base hit into center field which scored both Battaglia and Baldwin for a 4-0 lead as the two teams switched sides.
 
Southwest answered LCU's four with four of its own in the bottom half, including a three-run home run, to tie things up at the end of the inning.
 
LCU jumped back in front in the fourth as Baldwin doubled to left, scoring both Broussard and Daigle to put the Wildcats back up 6-4. That was equaled by the Mustangs in the fifth as an error allowed two runs to score for USW, tying the score again at 6-6.
 
The Wildcats took advantage of a Mustang error in the sixth as Medrano raced home on the miscue, putting LCU back in front, 7-6.
 
Again, USW had an answer as a base hit to center tied the score once again at 7-7 as the game headed to the final inning.
 
Curtis started the seventh frame with a double to left. She was moved to third by Naya Soto's sacrifice bunt and came home on Kaitlyn Van Haverbeke's double to center, giving the Wildcats an 8-7 lead.
 
LCU made that lead stand up by getting USW in order in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win.
 
Battaglia, Curtis, and Van Haverbeke had two hits apiece in the nightcap.
 
Curtis went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI, and a run scored.
 
Van Haverbeke was also 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI.
 
Battaglia was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
 
Broussard's one hit in three at-bats was her second home run of the day, and of the season. She also drew a walk, stole a base, knocked in two runs, and scored twice.
 
Baldwin was 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, a stolen base, two RBI, and a run scored.
 
Without the benefit of a base hit in the contest, Medrano still stole two bases and scored twice.
 
Katelyn Carpenter (1-2) picked up the win in the circle for the Wildcats as she threw the final three innings, allowed three hits and two runs, one earned, with no walks and three strikeouts.
 
Addison Greak got the start and threw 2.2 innings, allowing five hits and four runs, all earned, with a walk and two strikeouts.
 
Addison Bailey went 1.1 innings, allowing two hits and one run, which was not earned, with a walk and a strikeout.
 
With the series win already in hand, the Wildcats look to finish the three-game series sweep of the Mustangs on Saturday. First pitch of the final game of the set against USW is set for 11 a.m. MDT/12 p.m. CDT Saturday at Baker Field.