LUBBOCK, Texas (April 25, 2015) – Lubbock Christian University went from five hits in a 7-2 loss against Oklahoma Christian University to open a Heartland Conference doubleheader, to 11 extra base hits in an 18-10 victory to split the day's action Saturday afternoon at Hays Field.
OC jumped out early in the opener, tallying six hits in the opening two innings for a 4-0 lead. Three of the OC hits were for extra bases, including a triple in the first inning by Derek Jones. LCU produced their first run in the second inning, as
Gerardo Arzaga, who led off the inning with a double, scored off a
Jose Favela base hit to cut the deficit to 4-1. LCU would go without a hit over their next 14 batters following Favela's single. By the time
Brendan McCarthy came in for a pinch-hit double in the sixth inning to end the dry spell, OC was in control at 7-1. Jones hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning for his second home run of the season to help the OC lead during the stretch. LCU closed the scoring with a run in the seventh inning off a
Nikko Velarde double.
Four of LCU's five hits were for doubles. Jones and Zac Cobble each went 3-for-4 for OC, with Jones producing a game-high three RBI. Dillon Endecott went the distance for the complete game and claimed the win (6-3), allowing two runs off five hits. He struck out seven batters.
Brig Gerlich suffered the loss for LCU (5-7), allowing seven runs off 11 hits in six innings.
The shoe was on the other foot in the second game, as it was the Chaps with the early lead. Velarde's triple and a double by
Stephen Withrow capitalized on an OC error for a trio of unearned runs in the second inning. It was followed by a three-run third inning capped by a two-out two-run triple by
Brett Wilhelm to give LCU a 6-1 lead after three innings. The score remained 6-1 until the two teams combined for 21 runs over the final three-and-a-half innings. Kyle Lacy and Ben McKenzie each doubled in a three-run sixth inning for OC, but it was answered by a two-run home half with
Jesse Pintado's double placing the lead at 8-4. Jones singled down the left field line in the top of the seventh inning and a wild pitch led to another run, as OC cut the LCU lead to 8-6. The Chaps responded in the bottom of the seventh inning with doubles by Favela and
Wade Stramp leading to a three-run inning and a 9-6 advantage. OC again rallied with a three-run eighth inning (two runs coming off a two-run homer by Lacy cutting LCU's lead to 11-9), but was countered by a seven-run bottom half by LCU.
Hunter McFall and
Josh Powe each homered, and Stramp also tripled as one of seven hits in the scoring stanza. Chase Kuwitzky hit a pinch hit double in the ninth leading to OC's final run.
OC went through eight pitchers during the game. Starter Kelby Reneau lasted the longest going three innings. He took the loss (3-6) allowing six runs (three earned) off seven hits. Five of OC's relievers did not make it through one inning of relief in their appearance. LCU put four pitchers on the hill, with
Guillaume Blanchette claiming the win (5-5). In 5.1 innings, he allowed four runs off seven hits and struck out six batters.
Nine different Chaps had hits, with six having multi-hit performances. Pintado went 4-for-6 with two runs driven in to lead LCU in hits. Wilhelm (3-for-5) and Withrow (3-for-4) each had a trio of hits. Stramp and Wilhelm led LCU with three runs-batted-in each. Lacy was 3-for-4 with a pair driven in for OC.
LCU's 18 runs is the most since they tallied 23 against New Mexico Highlands on Feb. 6, and the most in a conference game since scoring 20 against Wayland Baptist on Apr. 26, 2013 (18 is their highest run total in a Heartland Conference game). LCU set a season single-game high in triples (three) and matched a season single-game high in total bases (38). They produced 11 extra-base hits in the game (six doubles, three triples, two homers) and fifteen in the doubleheader.
The split places LCU with a 22-22 record overall and 9-11 in conference. OC moves to 26-17 overall and 12-11 in conference. The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m. at Hays Field. The game is LCU's final home game of the season and nine seniors will be honored prior to the game as part of "Senior Day."
