LUBBOCK, Texas (March 24, 2016) – No.10 Lubbock Christian University opened their three-game series with Arkansas – Fort Smith with consecutive 5-4 walk-off victories to sweep a Heartland Conference doubleheader Thursday at Hays Field.
 
In the opener, it was a Brent Stewart single to right field, and in the second game, it was a Tony Reyes base hit up the middle to prove to be the difference and ignite postgame celebrations against a UAFS squad that entered the day unbeaten (in conference play) and atop the Heartland Conference standings.
 
UAFS had the lead in each of the games. In the first game, LCU trailed 4-2 going into the bottom of the third inning. JP Rousseau, who was responsible for an RBI in a two-run second inning, produced his second RBI with a base hit to cut their deficit to 4-3. That score stood until the bottom of the seventh of the seven-inning contest. With one out in the bottom of the seventh, and the bases cleared, Hunter McFall singled, Brandon Rix doubled and Reyes was walked to load the bases. Rousseau capped a three-RBI performance with a single to tie the game. Pinch runner Josh Narvaiz attempted to win the game on Rousseau's single through the left side, but was thrown out at home for the second out. Stewart came up the hero for the Chaps with a two-out single to right field to end the game.
 
In the second game, UAFS came back from a 3-1 deficit with a pair of runs in the seventh inning. Ozzie Hurt hit a single to score a run and three batters later, following an infield single and a walk to load the bases, Kasey Cooper walked to tie the game 3-3. Chaps pitcher Ricky Contreras was able to rebound with a strikeout a fly-out to end the bases loaded threat. The Lions did eventually take the lead with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning. LCU matched the run with a sacrifice fly of their own in the bottom half of the inning and Jaime Bustamante's RBI tied the game 4-4 through eight innings. In the ninth inning, LCU was able to get out of a pickle in the top of the ninth with the third out coming on a caught-steal while the lead run was on third base. In the bottom half, Rix singled with one out and was replaced by Jesse Pintado, who advanced to second base on a wild pitch. That set up Reyes for a base hit and Pintado scored to end the game.
 
Guillaume Blanchette completed his sixth complete game of the season in the opener to claim the win (7-0). He struck out seven batters in the seven innings of work and allowed four runs off eight hits. Clayton Whelchel went 6.1 innings for the Lions, but the loss went to the blown save of Tyler Nelson (2-3). Rousseau went 2-for-4 with three RBI to lead LCU. UAFS was led by Josh Vanderpool, who was 2-for-3 with a RBI.
 
Rousseau was solid in the nightcap too, going 3-for-4 to complete a 5-for-8 afternoon. Bustamante had two RBI in the second game. UAFS had three-hit performances from Hurt and Trever Crone in the loss. Darrin Pittman suffered the loss in the second game for the Lions (1-2), pitching the final 1.1 innings. Contreras, who relieved Russell Reber in the seventh inning, pitched the final 2.2 innings and was credited with the victory to improve to 4-0.
 
The Chaparrals improved to 2-0 on the season when tied after eight innings and 3-6 when trailing after six innings. LCU improved to 20-7 overall and moved into a share of first place in the conference standings with a 6-2 mark in conference play. UAFS fell to 17-9 overall and 6-2 in conference. The two teams complete their conference series Friday at 1 p.m.