LUBBOCK, Texas (May 6, 2016) – Lubbock Christian University completed a Heartland Conference doubleheader sweep over University of Texas of the Permian Basin with a 4-3 and 14-2 (run-rule) win Friday at Hays Field. The wins helped the Chaparrals clinch second place in the Heartland Conference regular season standings and the No.2 seed in the Heartland Conference Tournament, which will begin Thursday in Belton, Texas.
 
Things got a little scary late in the opening game, as LCU nearly saw their 4-0 lead go to the wayside. In the top of the sixth inning (seven-inning game), UTPB took advantage of two LCU errors with a four-hit inning. The Falcons put three runs across and had the bases loaded with two outs trailing 4-3.  LCU replaced starting pitcher Guillaume Blanchette and called on Brent Bezio to go for the four-out save. Bezio was able to end the threat in sixth inning by striking out Doug Clapperton with the bases loaded. He claimed his second save of the season keeping the Falcons off the scoreboard for the final 1.1 innings.
 
LCU built their 4-0 lead with a three-run third inning. Jaime Bustamante, Brandon Rix and Hunter McFall each hit doubles in consecutive at-bats leading to the three-run inning. Bustamante was part of the scoring in the fourth inning with a single to score Brandon Urquizo to extend the lead to 4-0.
 
Bustamante and Rix each went 2-for-4 in the opener. LCU was out-hit 11-8 in the win, as four different Falcons had multi hit games. Ten of the hits were off Chaps starting pitcher Blanchette, who gave up the season high mark in 5.2 innings. Three runs were scored off Blanchette, but only one of the runs was earned. He did strikeout eight batters in the win, which placed him with an 11-1 record. Donald Wanner suffered the loss for UTPB (5-5). He allowed four runs off seven hits in 3.2 innings.
 
The Falcons struck first in the second game with a two-out single in the first inning for a 1-0 lead, but LCU responded in the bottom of the first inning with a pair of runs to take the lead away. A leadoff triple by Bustamante and a ground-rule double by McFall led to the two runs in the first inning for LCU. UTPB committed six errors in the game and two came in a three-run second inning, which allowed LCU to take a 5-1 lead. UTPB had six runners stranded through the first four innings and were unable to get in a scoring rhythm. Meanwhile, LCU built the lead to 6-1 in the third inning off a RBI-single from Jesse Pintado to score Brett Wilhelm.
 
A pair of singles led to a sacrifice fly by Ryan Souza in the fourth inning to help UTPB cut their deficit to 6-2, but it is as close as they would get. LCU would go on to score eight unanswered runs. The Chaps produced a five-run fifth inning and a three-run sixth inning to garner the run-rule win. The five-run fifth inning was filled with four hits and a pair of runs scoring on an error. Wilhelm opened the sixth inning with a solo home run.
 
McFall and Chase Simmons each had three-hit performances (3-for-4) in the second game. Rix led LCU with three RBI. Clapperton had UTPB's only multi-hit performance (2-for-3). UTPB used six pitchers and none lasted more than 2.2 innings. Jake Albert suffered the loss (2-5) allowing five runs off four hits in 1.1 innings. Ricky Contreras started on the hill for LCU and allowed two runs off five hits in five innings. He struck out five batters and improved to 7-1. Christian Buatte pitched the final two innings in relief for LCU and did not allow a run.
 
The Chaps (34-15) are now 4-0 this season against UTPB. The two wins Friday were in conference play and LCU is now 19-7 in conference games. UTPB fell to 19-29 overall and 11-15 in conference. The two teams conclude the regular season Saturday at 2 p.m. at Hays Field. LCU will honor their seniors prior to the game as part of Senior Day.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
0.00 – LCU's ERA by relievers, as Christian Buatte and Brent Bezio combined for five strikeouts and no runs allowed in 3.1 innings.
.385 – LCU hit .385 on the day with 23 hits in the combined two games. Hunter McFall went 4-for-7 to lead LCU on the day.
.500 – The Chaps were able to get the lead-off batter aboard at a rate of .500 (6-for-12).
3-9 – In the opening game, LCU improved their record to 3-9 when being out-hit by their opponents.
9 – LCU produced nine extra-base hits in the doubleheader and allowed one.