LUBBOCK, Texas (April 19, 2016) – Brandon Rix matched a program single-game record with five hits and No.7 Lubbock Christian University received a nice starting debut from pitcher Christian Buatte, as the Chaparrals defeated Eastern New Mexico 7-4 Tuesday night at Hays Field.
 
Rix went 5-for-5 at the plate and became the 30^th player in LCU history to have a five-hit game. All five hits were singles and the last player to match the program single-game record was Wade Stramp last season (Feb. 6, 2015 vs. New Mexico Highlands). Rix was also responsible for a pair of runs and three RBI.
 
The performance at the plate by Rix was backed by the first pitching start by Buatte in a Chaps uniform. The junior went seven innings and allowed one earned run off eight hits and struck out four batters. He claimed the win (1-0), which is his first as a member of the Chaps. Collin Fraley and Alberto Aveytia each pitched an inning of relief, with Aveytia claiming his third save of the season.
 
It was the third game, of their last four played, in which the opposition took a 2-0 lead (LCU has overcome the deficit in all three games). Eastern New Mexico opened the scoring in the first inning with a two-out single by Wesley Jordan, which scored a pair of unearned runs. LCU responded with the next seven runs. Reyes put the Chaps on the scoreboard with a RBI single in the first inning, and the Chaps took the lead with a three-run second inning. Rix singled in a pair of runs in the second inning to give LCU a 4-2 lead.
 
Hunter McFall extended his hit streak to 23 games with a RBI-single in a two-run fourth inning to extend LCU's lead to 6-2. Rix capped his three-RBI game in the fifth inning with a single to end LCU's scoring with a 7-2 advantage. The Greyhounds tried making things interesting with a run in the seventh and eighth inning, but they never got the tying run to the plate.
 
ENMU started Daniel Schiller on the mound, but he was limited to the first inning, suffering an injury and departing in the second inning. Reliever Kiegan Basso, who pitched a third of an inning, was saddled with the loss (0-1). Michael McNicholl (2-for-3) and Chris Padilla (2-for-4) each had a pair of hits for ENMU in the loss.
 
The win marked LCU's fourth consecutive win and they improve to 29-11 overall on the season. ENMU fell to 10-31, falling for a seventh consecutive game. LCU heads to Rogers State Friday to open a three-game Heartland Conference series.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
12 – LCU produced 12 hits to mark the sixth consecutive game with at least 10 hits, which matches a season high for consecutive games with at least 10 hits.
12 – All 12 LCU hits were singles.
5 – Josh Narvaiz had two runs scored Tuesday and now has at least one run scored in five consecutive games.
5 – Along with five hits, Brandon Rix assisted on five put-outs.
6 – Jaime Bustamante has six consecutive multi-hit games after his 2-for-4 performance Tuesday.