LUBBOCK, Texas (February 13, 2016) – The Lubbock Christian University Chaparrals are off to a 7-0 start and off to their best start since 2011, as they swept a doubleheader Saturday, defeating New Mexico Highlands University 10-1 and 8-6 at Hays Field to complete a three-game series sweep.
The opening game Saturday was highlighted by the pitching performance of LCU's
Guillaume Blanchette. The second-year Chap hurled his first career complete game with LCU and allowed three hits. He retired the first six batters he faced and did not face more than five batters in any inning pitched. The Cowboys lone run scored was off a pair of errors in the seventh inning and it was the first unearned run allowed this season by the Chaps.
LCU scored eight of their 10 runs in the opener in the first inning. The Chaps sent 13 batters to the plate and tallied eight runs off six hits in the first inning. LCU's first six batters reached base safely and
Tony Reyes was in the mix with a bases-loaded two-run single. McFall had two hits in the inning and his second led to a pair of runs.
Brett Wilhelm and
Brent Stewart each had doubles in the fifth inning and Stewart's double, which was his second of the game, capped a two-run inning to close LCU's scoring in the game.
Stewart (2-for-3), McFall (2-for-4),
Brandon Rix (2-for-3) and Wilhelm (2-for-2) each had multi-hit games for LCU, with McFall and Reyes having multi-RBI performances for the Chaps. Blanchette improved to 1-0 with the victory and faced four batters over the minimum. Paul Trujillo started on the hill for NMHU, but he only last 0.2 innings and had allowed six runs off four hits and had walked three batters. He fell to 0-1.
The second game opened up with the Chaps playing from behind. NMHU opened the game with a double from Easton Garcia, who later scored for a 1-0 lead. LCU matched the run after Stewart and
Brandon Urquizo led off the bottom of the first with singles. NMHU took advantage of lead-off batters reaching and used a two-run second inning and a run in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead.
LCU rallied in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs, LCU received four straight base hits.
Jaime Bustamante, Stewart and Urquizo each singled and McFall drove in a pair with a double to cap a four-run fifth inning for a 5-4 LCU lead. Wilhelm doubled in a pair of runs in the sixth inning for a 7-4 lead. A pair of sac-flies in the eighth inning brought the Cowboys within a run (7-6), but they were unable to get the tying run across. LCU added insurance in the bottom of the inning with a triple off the centerfield wall by Bustamante to extend their lead to 8-6.
Brent Bezio made his first start and improved to 2-0 on the mound with the win for the Chaps. He went six innings and allowed four runs off seven hits.
Albert Aveytia allowed a hit in the ninth inning, but held on for his first save and the Chaps first save of the season. Cody Lawson suffered the loss on the hill for the Cowboys (0-1). He allowed seven runs off 10 hits in five innings.
Bustamante (2-for-4), Rix (2-for-4), Urquizo (2-for-4) and Stewart (2-for-5) each had two hits for the Chaps. Wilhelm, Bustamante and McFall each drove in a pair in the win. Brad Blackwell and Emilio Medina each had a pair of hits in the losing effort for NMHU.
LCU improved to 7-0 with the win and the three-game series sweep put NMHU with a 1-5 record. The Chaps remain home and host Angelo State Friday at Hays Field.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS0 – LCU entire bullpen in the series did not allow an earned run to score in 4.2 innings of work.
6 – The number of hits in the series by
Brett Wilhelm,
Brandon Rix and
Brent Stewart in the series.
6-0 – The number of stolen bases in the series for LCU (6) and the number allowed (0).
7 – LCU turned seven double plays in the three-game series.
12-0 – The Chaps had a 12-0 advantage in two-out RBI in the series, as LCU hit .371 as a team with two outs. McFall had four of the two-out runs-batted-in.
49 – The number of innings played before LCU's first unearned run allowed.
