LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (10-8, 3-1) at ST. MARY'S (15-4, 3-0)
Friday, March 13th – Game 1: 3 p.m.    Game 2: 5 p.m.                                                   
Dickson Stadium (San Antonio, Texas)
Radio: KJTV AM950/100.7FM
All-Time Series: Series Tied at 7-7

Lubbock Christian University can regain their regional and national recognition on the diamond this weekend, as they head to the Alamo City for a three-game Heartland Conference series against No.22 St. Mary's University. The three-game series begins Friday with a 3 p.m. doubleheader.

The Chaps opened the season 5-0, but then an injury to returning All-Conference selection Jesse Pintado turned out derailing the Chaps success. LCU has gone 6-8 without Pintado and has collected a five-game and three-game losing streak along the way. They are still seeking their first road win of the season (0-4).

Despite a rough stretch, LCU is starting to turn things around and enter Friday's play on a three-game win streak. They swept Newman University in a conference series and are 3-1 in conference play. LCU, 10-8 overall, is averaging over 11 runs a game in their four prior games (they went a nine-game stretch prior to the current mark without scoring more than eight runs). They are also averaging nearly 12 hits a game over the last four games. LCU is still a force offensively. They lead the Heartland Conference in runs (145, ranks ninth nationally), doubles (43, ranks fourth nationally), home runs (16, ranks 12th nationally), walks (75, ranks 15th nationally) and is second in hits (192). They are hitting .313 as a team, with Hunter McFall leading the team with a .385 batting average. The San Antonio native is tied for second in the conference with 30 hits, with 10 extra base hits to lead the conference with 46 total bases. McFall co-leads the conference with 23 RBI (tied for 11th in the nation). LCU has the top three doubles producers in the conference, with Shane Crawford (8, ranking ninth in the nation), Wade Stramp (7) and McFall (6) atop the conference. Nine different Chaps have produced a home run this season, with Brendan McCarthy and Gerardo Arzaga each tied for second in the conference with three home runs. Stramp leads the conference and ranks second in the nation with 18 walks and it has him as one of five players in the conference with at least a .500 on base percentage.

On the mound, LCU has a 5.41 ERA. They are second in the conference with 122 strikeouts. Brig Gerlich, who is expected to start in the opener, is second in the conference with 31 strikeouts. Gerlich is 3-2 with a 4.42 ERA. He has made six starts and has two complete games. Gerlich has not allowed more than three runs in his prior three starts. He claimed the win in a 10-6 LCU win in the series opener last season, going 6.2 innings and allowing six runs off 10 hits (five strikeouts). The Chaps will hand the ball to Guillaume Blanchette in the second game. The southpaw is 2-1 with a 4.77 ERA. He has combined for four walks in four of his five starts this season and is coming off a seven-inning pitching performance against Newman in which he allowed one run.

St. Mary's (15-4, 3-0) is seeking to continue their familiarity around their own campus. The Rattlers, who have only played three road games, are 10-2 at home this season. They are riding an 11-game win streak, with eight straight wins at Dickson Stadium. The Rattlers are hitting .329 as a team (second in the Heartland Conference) and leading the conference with 195 hits. Brooks Orton is a big threat in their lineup, hitting .425 on the season with a conference leading 31 hits. He also co-leads the conference (with teammate AJ Perez) in runs (20) and is a conference-best 10-for-10 in stolen bases. The Rattlers are solid defensively, with only 21 errors committed. To compare, LCU has 46 errors and StMU has allowed 33 less unearned runs (44-11) than LCU. StMU has a 3.87 ERA. Pitchers Matt McClain, Oscar Sepulveda and Garrett McKenzie have combined to pitch 45 innings and have allowed two extra base hits and have not allowed a home run (McClain and McKenzie have not allowed an extra base hit this season). Sepulveda leads the conference holding opponents to a .135 batting average, with McClain sitting second (.138). McClain (3-0, 0.51 ERA) is expected to start the opener. He took the loss last season, going 5.1 innings and allowing seven runs off 13 hits and struck out seven batters in a 7-5 LCU win. They are expected to start Kris Gardner (4-1, 3.61 ERA) in the second game. The lefty and former Freshman All-American at Wichita State has gone at least seven innings in his last four starts.

LCU and St. Mary's have met 14 prior times dating back to 1978 and the all-time series is even at 7-7. The Chaps won two of three games last season at Hays Field. Prior to last season the two teams had not met since Feb. 5, 2000. LCU is 3-4 all-time against StMU away from Hays Field.