SAN ANTONIO, Texas (March 13, 2015) – For the first time in their short program history in the Heartland Conference, the Lubbock Christian University Chaparrals were swept in a conference doubleheader. No.22 St. Mary's University used a walk-off home run in a 3-1 win and held off a Chaps rally in the ninth for a 7-3 win to complete the doubleheader sweep Friday at Dickson Stadium.

It was Friday the 13th, and the actions that took place haunted the Chaparrals throughout the day. In the first inning, to set the tone for the afternoon, LCU had runners at second base (Hunter McFall) and third base (Jesse Pintado) with one out. Brendan McCarthy hit what appeared to be a sacrifice fly to straightaway centerfield, but centerfielder AJ Perez (after catching the ball for the second out) threw to third base, as both runners tagged up, and McFall was thrown out simultaneously as Pintado touched home plate. Home plate umpire Jerry Goolsby ruled the third out (McFall) was made prior to Pintado touching home plate, so no run scored on the play.

In the third inning, LCU had the bases loaded with no outs, but McFall struck out, McCarthy fouled out and Nikko Velarde flew out and the Chaps left the bases loaded. The bad breaks looked as if they were going to continue in the fifth inning while trailing 1-0. Jose Favela led off the fourth inning with a double for the first extra-base hit allowed by StMU starting pitcher Matt McClain this season (20.2 innings). Two batters later Favela remained at second base and there were two outs. He would go on to score though, as Shane Crawford produced LCU's only hit of the game with a runner in scoring position.

The Chaps were in good shape to unlock the 1-1 tie in the top of the seventh inning with two on base and nobody out. The Rattlers got out of the jam, as McClain picked off both base runners on two separate plays to set up the heroics in the bottom half of the inning. With pinch hitter Scott Jones reaching on an error with one out in the bottom of the seventh, Bryce Brandl stepped up to the plate and hit a 2-0 pitch over the right centerfield fence for the walk-off 3-1 win.

LCU was unable to score an unearned run in the game despite St. Mary's committing five errors. The productivity numbers were not pretty, as LCU was 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and StMU was 1-for-9 in the same scenario. The two teams also struggled with runners on base (LCU: 2/13, StMU: 2/10). The separation was LCU's 0-for-3 mark with the bases loaded and the inability to produce a run with a runner on third base with less than two outs in three situations.

The starting pitchers each went the distance for the complete game. LCU's Brig Gerlich dropped to 3-3 and allowed three runs (two earned) off five hits in 6.1 innings (no walks). McClain, a lefty, improved to 4-0 allowing one run off seven hits in seven innings.

Pintado, who had missed the prior 14 games due to injury, rejoined the lineup and went 2-for-3, including a base hit off the first pitch he saw. Favela went 2-for-3 in the loss for LCU.  

LCU was hoping the second game would go better and pitcher Guillaume Blanchette tried to set the early tone. He opened the game not allowing a hit until the fourth inning. Former Wichita State southpaw Kris Gardner was doing his part to keep the Chaps off the scoreboard, holding LCU to two hits over the first four innings. Each team finally scored in the fifth inning. Adam Norblom hit a double down the left field line to score Brett Wilhelm, and Norblom would eventually make it 2-0 LCU by scoring on a Wade Stramp single. In the bottom of the inning, Jake Marler led off reaching on a team-leading eighth hit-by-pitch despite making no effort to avoid the ball. He would later score as Jones and Brooks Orton produced RBI singles to tie the game 2-2.

The score remained 2-2 until another Rattlers break took place in the seventh inning. Blanchette had picked off a Rattlers baserunner, but a balk was ruled and the runner advanced into scoring position. After a lengthy discussion between the umpire and Chaps head coach Nathan Blackwood, LCU had their infield in for a potential play at the plate to prevent the lead run scoring. The move didn't pan out, as Jones and Orton hit back-to-back triples sparking a four-run inning and a 6-2 lead. In the ninth inning, trailing 7-2, LCU tried to rally back. Norblom grabbed his second RBI with a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 7-3, but LCU was down to their final out. A single by Crawford and Stramp walking loaded the bases for Pintado, who represented the tying run. Pintado made solid contact but lined out to right field and the game ended with a 7-3 loss for LCU.

Stramp went 3-for-3 in the loss for LCU and Wilhelm finished 2-for-4. Orton was 3-for-5 and Jones was 2-for-4 for the Rattlers, as they each drove in a pair of runs. Blanchette took the loss (2-2), allowing four runs (two earned) off six hits in 6.1 innings. Gardner faced all but two batters, improving to 5-1 and holding LCU to three runs off nine hits in 8.2 innings. Oscar Sepulveda came in for the save (second of the season).

LCU falls to 10-10 with the losses and 3-3 in the Heartland Conference. The Chaparrals, who finished in first place last season in their inaugural campaign in the conference, never lost a three-game conference series last season and were never swept in a conference doubleheader. They will seek to avoid the series sweep Saturday at 1 p.m. against the Rattlers, who extended their win streak to 13 games and improved to 17-4 overall and 5-0 in conference with Friday's wins.