SAN ANTONIO, Texas (March 14, 2015) – Lubbock Christian University was held to three hits and No. 22 St. Mary's University scored six unearned runs to complete a three-game Heartland Conference sweep with an 11-1 run-rule shortened win over the Chaparrals Saturday afternoon at Dickson Stadium.

LCU had hits from Jesse Pintado and Hunter McFall (McFall's scored Wade Stramp for the Chaps only run) in the first inning before the first out could be recorded, but then St. Mary's starting pitcher Cody Butler held LCU without a hit over the next 20 batters, covering a span of 6.2 innings. Nikko Velarde ended that dry spell with a double in the seventh inning. By the time the double was produced, LCU's 1-0 lead was at 9-1 deficit.

Butler (4-1) went the complete game for the Rattlers with a run allowed off three hits and he struck out nine batters. LCU did not have as much luck with the strike zone, as they did not record one strike out… a first during the 12-year coaching era of Chaps head coach Nathan Blackwood. Chaps started Levi Westerlund (1-4), who went 5.1 innings and allowed eight runs (two earned) off six hits.

StMU took the lead in the third inning with a two-out RBI-single from Scott Jones and a two-run base hit from Brooks Orton for a 3-1 advantage. All three runs were unearned as an error for catcher's interference on LCU's Jose Favela prolonged the inning. The Chaps committed two errors during the fifth inning and an infield single served as the Rattlers lone hit in a four-run inning for a 7-1 lead. Matt Smith drove in two runners with a bases loaded single in the sixth inning to extend the lead, and the scoring closed in the eighth inning with two more runs to activate the run rule. One of the runs in the eighth inning came on a dropped fly ball to centerfield, which was ruled a hit and did not play into the "error" column.

The Chaps had as many errors (three) as base hits (three), which unfortunately marked the first time LCU did not have more hits than errors committed since April 5, 2012 (at St. Gregory's) when they were also held to three hits while committing three errors.

The three hits for LCU tied a season low in hits. St. Mary's started a lefty in all three games of the series and LCU only faced one right handed pitcher in the series, and that was for only two batters faced at the close of Friday's second game of the doubleheader.

AJ Perez led StMU with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate. Teammate Orton was 2-for-3 with two runs driven in. Matt Smith was 1-for-4 with four RBI. The Rattler improved their win streak to 14 games and they are 18-4 overall and 6-0 in conference.

The Chaps fell to 10-11 overall and are 3-4 in conference. It marks the first time LCU has been swept in a three-game conference series since joining the Heartland Conference. The Chaps will aim to break their three-game losing streak Monday, as they play No.20 St. Cloud State (5 p.m. Central) and Augustana College (9 p.m. Central).