LUBBOCK, Texas (March 7, 2015) – Gerardo Arzaga hit a grand slam to highlight a five-run fourth inning and Lubbock Christian University was able to complete a three-game Heartland Conference sweep of Newman University with a 13-11 win Saturday afternoon at Hays Field.

LCU had to play from behind early, as an error to open the game opened the door for a two-run top of the first inning for the Jets. The Chaps tied the game up in the bottom of the second inning with Adam Norblom producing a two-run double down the left field line. Norblom struck again in the bottom of the third inning with another two-run double. He would eventually score on a double by Shane Crawford, as LCU led 5-3 after three innings.

Newman was able to have their lead-off batter reach base six out of nine times in the game, including in each of the first five innings. Back-to-back singles to lead off the fourth inning led to a run and Newman cut LCU's lead to 5-4. LCU, 1-for-5 in the game with the bases loaded, got their only hit with the bases loaded in the fourth inning with Arzaga smashing the first pitch of the at-bat over the right centerfield wall for his third home run of the season and LCU's first grand slam of the season. The home run followed an RBI-single by Hunter McFall and capped a five-run inning and provided LCU a 10-4 lead.

The Jets responded scoring the next five runs. Newman's first nine hits of the game were singles and Andrew Standish provided their first hit for extra bases in the fifth inning with a three-run home run. They followed a three-run fifth inning with a pair of runs in the seventh inning. It could have been a larger seventh inning for the Jets, as Standish came up with the bases loaded and hit a deep fly ball to right centerfield with two outs, but Chaps centerfielder Brett Wilhelm was able to scamper back and make a great catch falling to the grass shy of the warning track.

The Chaps added to the 10-9 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning with Josh Powe providing a two-run single after McFall and Brendan McCarthy led off the inning with walks on eight straight pitches from reliever Tanner Lee. The two teams added a run in the eighth inning and LCU had to fight to protect the 13-11 lead in the top of the ninth inning. Newman, 0-for-3 in the game with the bases loaded, had the bases loaded with two outs, but Dalton Silva claimed his first save of the season striking out Aaron Mack, who had four hits in the game prior to the at-bat.

The two teams combined to strand 28 runners in the game, as each team stranded 14 runners. The two teams also combined for 31 hits, with Newman producing 18 of them. LCU had 13 hits, with extra-base hits in four of their first six hits. Newman walked 11 LCU batters, with Wilhelm walking three times. Four Chaps had two-hit performances, with Arzaga and Norblom each driving in four runs. Mack finished the game 4-for-6 in the losing effort and Tyler Evans (3-for-5) and Tyler Bugner (3-for-4) each having three-hit games. Standish finished 2-for-5 with four RBI.

Jay Rawlins earned his first win (1-0), coming in to relieve starter Levi Westerlund, who went four innings. Rawlins allowed two runs (one earned) off three hits in 2.2 innings. Newman went through seven pitchers and starter Cody Fredericksen suffered the loss (1-1). He allowed five runs off five hits and walked five batters in 2.2 innings pitched.

Eight different Chaps had at least four hits in the three-game sweep of Newman. Arzaga completed the series 4-for-8 with a double and two home runs and eight RBI. McFall led the series in hits with six, going 6-for-14 with 6 RBI. Norblom had seven runs-batted-in in the series.

LCU moved to 10-8 overall and 3-1 in Heartland Conference play, while Newman fell to 5-9 overall and 0-3 in conference. The Chaps hit the road for the next 10 games beginning Friday in San Antonio, Texas facing St. Mary's for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.