LUBBOCK, Texas (March 18, 2016) – The top two hitting teams in the Heartland Conference opened up a conference series at Hays Field splitting a twinbill with hitting as brisk as the weather. No.10 Lubbock Christian University won the opener 6-1, but fell in the second game to St. Mary's 1-0 Friday evening.
 
The two teams combined for 28 hits in the two games, with 26 of the hits coming as singles (six for infield singles). A rare wind from the northeast had the wind blowing directly into home plate and the outfielders playing very shallow.
 
The two extra-base hits in the game came in the opening game and the first was a triple by Brent Stewart in the first inning with two outs to provide LCU with a 2-0 lead. It was all LCU needed in the opener, as Guillaume Blanchette pitched his fifth complete game of the season and was an out away from recording a shutout. LCU used a four-run third inning to get insurance, as LCU produced five hits in the inning. Two-out singles by JP Rousseau and Brandon Urquizo and a double by Tony Reyes led to the four runs. The Chaps were 4-of-9 with two outs, 5-for-12 in RBI opportunities and seven of their nine hits came with runners on base.  All LCU's runs came with two outs.
 
Blanchette went the distance and allowed one run off seven hits. Four of the Rattlers seven hits came in the seventh inning. Blanchette struck out seven batters and did not surrender a walk. He opened the count with a strike on 21 of the 28 batters he faced.
 
Hunter McFall was 3-for-3 to lead LCU at the plate. Brandon Urquizo also aided the Chaps going 2-for-3.
 
In the second game, a two-out single by Angel Vega scored the game's only run.  LCU stranded 11 runners on base and went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. The Chaps were 0-of-8 getting the leadoff batter aboard until Tony Reyes blooped in a single to left centerfield in the bottom of the ninth inning. Brendan McCarthy pinch ran for Reyes and stole second base, but then was picked off second base for the first out of the inning. LCU would eventually put two more runners on base from walks but a fly out and fielder's choice ended the threat and the game to split the twinbill.
 
Ty Miles had an impressive pitching performance for StMU. He went 8.1 innings and allowed no runs on six hits and struck out nine batters. He improved to 3-2. Russell Reber suffered his first loss for LCU (2-1). He went six innings and allowed one run off six hits. Ricky Contreras came in to relieve Reber and did not allow a hit in three innings of work.
 
Reyes was LCU's only multi-hit producer, going 2-for-3. LCU and StMU each had six hits in the game and all were singles. Bryan Ramirez was 2-for-4 for StMU. The 1-0 loss was LCU's first shutout loss of the season and their first 1-0 loss since Apr. 13, 2013 at Oklahoma City. It was LCU's first 1-0 home loss since March 9, 2003 (vs. St. Gregory's) and their first shutout loss at home since Feb. 25, 2014 (vs. University of the Southwest).
 
The split places LCU's record at 17-6 overall and 3-2 in conference. StMU moves to 14-11 overall and 2-3 in conference.  The two teams will decide the series with a rubber match scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Hays Field.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
2-2 : StMU was 2-for-2 in stolen base attempts in the second game. LCU had only allowed nine stolen bases on the season heading into the day.
4 : Tony Reyes was 4-for-7 on the day from the plate for LCU
5 : The combined number of fly-outs StMU hit on the day.
8 : All eight combined runs in the doubleheader were scored with two outs.
10 : Number of pitches thrown on the day by St. Mary's right handed pitchers.
11 : Number of batters faced by LCU's Ricky Contreras in hitless relief in the second game.