WICHITA, Kan. (March 11, 2016) – Another solid pitching performance by
Guillaume Blanchette capped a doubleheader split in Lubbock Christian University's Heartland Conference opening series at Newman Friday at McCarthy Field. Chaps lost the opening game 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning, but bounced back to win the second game 1-0.
Blanchette pitched a nine-inning complete game three-hit shutout in the second game of the doubleheader.
Hunter McFall hit his fourth home run of the season in the first inning, and Blanchette made the 1-0 lead stand by facing only one batter over the minimum. He completed the shutout throwing 91 pitches, struck out nine batters and did not offer a walk. The win moved his record to 5-0 on the season.
Saddled with the tough loss was Dylan Porter. He went the distance with a complete game and allowed one run off seven hits. His record dropped to 2-1 on the season. LCU's last 1-0 win came on Mar. 1, 2005 against University of the Southwest.
The opening game of the doubleheader saw LCU fall behind 3-0. Garrett Thomas singled in the opening run in the first inning and a pair of infield singles in the second put Newman up 3-0. LCU started their comeback attempt in the third inning with a two-run single up the middle.
Brett Wilhelm tied the game with a base hit in the fifth inning. Newman regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning with a trio of walks scoring the walk-off run.
Glen Warrick suffered the loss (1-2), pitching an inning relief and walking three batters. He replaced
Russell Reber, who allowed two earned runs in 5.1 innings. Lucas Schauer improved to 3-0 with a complete game win. He allowed three runs off seven hits in seven innings.
Brandon Rix was 3-for-3 in the loss for LCU.
The opening game loss placed LCU 11-2 all-time in conference openers under head coach
Nathan Blackwood, with losses in consecutive season openers. They are 1-2 all-time in Heartland Conference openers. LCU is now 14-5 overall, while Newman is 13-6. The rubber match of the series is Saturday at 1 p.m.