ODESSA, Texas (March 5, 2016) –
Guillaume Blanchette held Texas-Permian Basin to a pair of hits over five innings and
Jaime Bustamante produced three hits and scored three runs to help Lubbock Christian University complete a two-game home-and-home series sweep with an 8-2 win at Roden Field Saturday afternoon.
Bustamante opened the game 3-for-3 and his first two hits were lead-off singles which led to runs for the Chaps. His first inning single was followed by a double from
Hunter McFall to put LCU on the scoreboard. In the two-run third inning, to place LCU with a 3-1 lead, Bustamante scored on a
Brandon Rix two-run single. Bustamante's third hit was part of a four-hit fourth inning leading to a trio of runs and extending LCU's lead to 6-1. Two of the runs came off a two-run single by
Brett Wilhelm. Rix led off the fifth inning with a single and a passed ball advanced him to set up a RBI single by
Tony Reyes and LCU led 7-1. They closed the scoring in the eighth inning with a double from J.P. Rousseau scoring
Jesse Pintado.
LCU starting pitcher
Guillaume Blanchette (4-0) went five innings and allowed one run off two hits and struck out eight batters. A home run from Mike Fernandez in the second inning was the only damage allowed by Blanchette. The homer ended Blanchette's streak of consecutive innings pitched without allowing an earned run at 27.2 innings.
Brent Bezio (two innings) and
Ricky Contreras (one inning) and
Glen Warrick (one inning) combined for four innings of relief and held the Falcons to a run off four hits. A triple by Jordan Zazulak in the sixth inning led to the lone run the bullpen allowed.
UTPB started Chris Cantu (2-2) and he lasted 3.1 innings after allowing six runs off eight hits. The Falcons fall to 7-13.
LCU has won three straight games and are 13-3 on the season. They remain on the road Tuesday, playing Wayland Baptist in Plainview, Texas.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS27.2 – LCU's Blanchette had his consecutive innings pitched without allowing an earned run end at 27.2 innings.
13 - LCU has produced at least 10 hits in six consecutive games and in 12 of 15 games. They had 13 hits Saturday.
11 – Blanchette retired the last 11 batters he faced in his five-inning start.
8 – The LCU bullpen retired the last eight batters faced.
