LUBBOCK, Texas (April 18, 2015) – An 11-2 lead was just enough to hold off a furious Rogers State University comeback, as Lubbock Christian University avoided a Heartland Conference series sweep with an 11-10 lead Saturday afternoon at Hays Field.

Trailing 11-2 in the sixth inning, Rogers State started their comeback with a RBI-double from Blake Gipson and a RBI-single from Zack Ashford to make up for a two-run sixth inning. Ryan Hendricks produced a pinch hit single for a run in the seventh inning to cut the deficit to 11-5, which is what the score remained entering the ninth inning. Jesse Pintado made his second appearance of the season on the mound for LCU and he allowed the first three batters in the ninth inning aboard, and Andrew Vanisi made him pay with a grand slam home run to cut the deficit to 11-9. It was his second home run of the series and his seventh of the season. Pintado was replaced by Jay Rawlins, who entered with a save situation on the line. Trae Bobo singled and his pinch runner, Johan Ochoa, would eventually score on a Garrett Hall double to cut the deficit to 11-10. Rawlins responded striking out Ashford and forcing pinch hitter Dustin Exford into grounding out to hold on for the win and giving Rawlins his first collegiate save.

LCU had the game's first seven runs and scored in each of the first five innings. Gerardo Arzaga opened the game's scoring with a two-out double in the first inning. The Chaps had four of their first five batters in the second inning reach base, and it led to a three-run inning. Josh Powe hit his second triple of his career and scored on a wild pitch in the third inning to extend the Chaps lead to 5-0. Stephen Withrow, Wade Stramp and Pintado each singled in consecutive at-bats in the fourth inning and it led to two more runs coming across for a 7-0 advantage. RSU collected their first runs in the fifth inning with a two-run home run by Chase Knott before LCU answered with four runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning. Brendan McCarthy doubled in the fifth inning for LCU before Nikko Velarde's infield single and Withrow's single each drove in runs. LCU was unable to score a run past the fifth inning despite six hits, as they hit into a pair of double plays, including a little league style triple play in the eighth inning.

Stramp (3-for-4), Arzaga (3-for-5), McCarthy (3-for-3) and Withrow (3-for-4) each produced three hits for LCU, who ended the game with 18 hits. Withrow and Pintado each produced a pair of RBI. Knott finished the game 4-for-4 for RSU with a pair of RBI. Vanissi finished 2-for-5 with four runs-batted-in to complete the series 7-for-15 (.467) with six extra-base hits (four doubles and a pair of homers) and eight RBI. Blake Gipson finished the series 7-for-11 (.636) for RSU, who tallied at least 10 runs in three consecutive games for the first time this season.

The win went to Levi Westerlund, who improves to 2-5 after eight consecutive starts without a win. Westerlund held RSU off the scoreboard for the first four innings and finished the game allowing four runs off seven hits in 5.1 innings. The loss went to Zach Tyson (2-2), who allowed seven runs off seven hits in 3.1 innings.

The Chaps ended a five-game conference home losing streak and improve their conference record to 8-10. They move to 21-21 overall on the season. RSU fell to 14-25 overall and 5-16 in conference. LCU remains home Saturday to open a Heartland Conference series with Oklahoma Christian. The series was originally scheduled for a Friday-Saturday series, but moved to Saturday-Sunday due to OC's players partaking in graduation scheduled Friday. First pitch for the doubleheader Saturday is set for 1 p.m. at Hays Field.