LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (16-16, 3-7) at OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE STATE (3-28, 2-10)
Thursday, April 2, 2015 – Game 1: 1 p.m. , Game 2: 3 p.m.                                                   
Aggie Baseball Field (Goodwell, Okla.)
Radio: KJTV AM950/100.7FM
All-Time Series: LCU leads 40-4
Tweet #LCUvsOPSU

Lubbock Christian University looks to end a six-game conference losing streak Thursday, as they open a three-game Heartland Conference series in Goodwell, Okla. against Oklahoma Panhandle State University with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

LCU has been in an organized conference on a year-to-year basis since joining the NAIA's Sooner Athletic Conference in 1995 and this marks the first time since then they have lost six consecutive conference games. The Chaps fell to 3-7 in conference play this past weekend suffering their first home conference sweep ever and their first home series sweep (of at least three games) overall since suffering a four-game series sweep to Southwestern Oklahoma State during the 1993 season.

The Chaps are 16-16 overall after defeating Eastern New Mexico 13-10 Tuesday evening at Hays Field. LCU is seeking their first Heartland Conference road win (0-4) and for their second straight road win overall (1-7). They are batting .305 overall on the season, with 20 homers, but hitting .261 in Heartland Conference play with two home runs. LCU's top two hitters overall on the season are Hunter McFall (.376) and Gerardo Arzaga (.363) have not had the same success in conference play, with McFall hitting .256 and Arzaga hitting .217 in conference games. The Chaps have 102 extra base hits on the season, averaging 3.9 per non-conference game, but only 17 have come in conference game (1.7 per conference game). Brett Wilhelm (.333) and Wade Stramp (.333) each co-lead the Chaps in conference play with 11 hits.

On the mound, LCU holds a staff ERA of 5.15. Brig Gerlich is expected to get the start in the opener and is 4-4 on the season with a 4.50 ERA. He pitched a complete game allowing one run in a 10-1 win last season against OPSU. The second game is expected to see Guillaume Blanchette go for LCU. He is 3-3 with a 4.09 ERA this season.

The Aggies are seeking to end a 12-game losing streak, coming in with a 3-28 overall record and a mark of 2-10 in conference. OPSU is hitting .247 as a team, led by Lucas Ogaz, who is batting .338. Chris McCleondon leads the team in extra base hits with eight, which includes three triples and four homers. Nicolas Zieniuk leads the squad in hits (25) and RBI (20).

The staff ERA for OPSU is at 8.00. Walker Rainwater will start on the hill in the opener. The Dodge City transfer and native of nearby Guymon, Okla. has a 4.91 ERA and is 0-7 on the season. Australian Sam Beattie (0-5, 7.83 ERA) will start the second game of Thursday's doubleheader. Beattie pitched in the opener against LCU last season (against Gerlich) and allowed 10 runs off 13 hits in five innings to suffer the loss.   

The Chaps swept the three-game series last season at Hays Field, which had marked their first meetings since Feb. 20, 2001. The Chaps are 40-4 overall and 12-2 away from Hays Field against the Aggies all-time. The last win for OPSU came on Feb. 27, 1999, as LCU has won the prior nine meetings.

The series will conclude with a nine-inning game scheduled Saturday. The game had originally been scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday, but the time has changed to a noon start.