LUBBOCK, Texas (February 6, 2015) – Wade Stramp matched a pair of Lubbock Christian University sin-gle-game records with five hits and three doubles as the Chaparrals exploded for 23 runs to spoil New Mexico Highlands University's season opener with a 23-13 win Friday evening at Hays Field.

Stramp went 5-for-5 to mark the 29th time a player has achieved five hits in a game and three of the five hits were doubles, which is the 22nd time the program record has been achieved in a game. The last time an LCU player achieved five hits in a game was on May 12, 2013, with Brandon Wilson completing the task against Lyon College in NAIA postseason play. Stramp is the second Chap this season to hit three doubles in a game. Gerardo Arzaga completed the task in LCU's season opener against Adams State. Prior to Arzaga it had been since Christian Vazquez completed the effort on April 20, 2013 against Rog-ers State.

LCU produced their 23 runs off 23 hits. Ten different Chaps produced at least a hit and seven different Chaps had multi-hit performances (Hunter McFall, Nikko Velarde and Brendan McCarthy each had three hits). Seven different Chaps produced a RBI and all seven had at least two runs-batted-in. Stramp pro-duced a career-high five RBI and McFall had four to lead the team. The 23 runs were the most since the Chaps tallied 24 against St. Gregory's on Apr. 30, 2011. The 23 hits were the most since they produced 23 hits on April 17, 2012 against Wayland Baptist.

The Chaps scored runs in each of the first five innings, which accounted for 21 of the 23 runs. The big inning for LCU was an eight-run fourth inning. LCU produced nine hits in the inning and had a string of five consecutive batters producing a hit in the inning. They followed the inning with a six-run fifth inning. LCU had five hits in the inning. The six-run fifth came after the Cowboys had scored five runs in the top half of the inning to cut LCU's lead to 11-8 heading to the bottom half of the fifth inning.

Brett Wilhelm, Brendan McCarthy and McFall each had home runs and each were two-run shots. LCU produced nine extra-base hits in the game.

NMHU had some big performances despite the loss. Eight-hole (Jesus Caporal) and nine-hole (Colby Wilmer) batters combined to go 8-for-10 with seven RBI. Caporal was 5-for-6 and Wilmer produced six RBI. NMHU's downfall was the lack of production with runners on base. The Cowboys stranded 13 run-ners.

Brig Gerlich claimed his first win of the season for LCU and he is 12-0 all-time as a Chaps pitcher. He went five innings and allowed four earned runs and struck out seven batters. LCU used five pitchers and they combined for 10 strikeouts. NMHU started Avery Brandon, who went 3.1 innings and allowed 11 runs (10 earned) off 11 hits. Erick McRae struggled in relief allowing 10 runs off 10 hits in 0.2 innings in relief.

LCU improves to 4-0 with the win and they have won 11 consecutive games carrying over from last sea-son. NMHU (0-1) open the season with a loss to LCU for a second consecutive season. The two teams close the series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.