LUBBOCK, Texas (May 7, 2016) – Seniors were a factor for Lubbock Christian University's Senior Day, as they accounted for all 10 runs-batted-in, including a four-RBI performance from Brendan McCarthy, as the No.17 Chaparrals completed a three-game Heartland Conference series sweep with a 12-9 win over Texas-Permian Basin Saturday afternoon at Hays Field.
 
Lubbock Christian honored 12 seniors before the game and head coach Nathan Blackwood placed seven in the starting lineup. Luke McKay (first start of the season), Brennan Johnson (third start), Gerardo Arzaga (fifth start) and McCarthy (fifth start) were four of the seniors taking advantage of their spot in the starting lineup.
 
LCU produced 16 hits in the game and 12 of the hits were produced by seniors. McCarthy produced a career high four hits in a 4-for-5 performance. The Chaps had homers from McCarthy and Johnson and each was their first of the season.
 
The teams combined for 21 runs, but LCU led 1-0 after five innings of play. The lone run to that point came in the third inning with Jesse Pintado leading off with a double and scoring on a single by Hunter McFall. Doug Clapperton helped the Falcons tie the game in the top of the fifth inning by leading off with a triple before eventually scoring on a single hit by Ryan Souza. McCarthy's homer came in the bottom of the fifth inning and the two-run home run helped LCU take a 3-1 lead. The lead was short-lived as Brian Van Vranken sparked a three-run top of the sixth inning with a two-run home run. LCU battled back from the 4-3 deficit with a six-run bottom of the sixth inning. Arzaga was 2-for-2 in the inning and led off the inning with a triple (he scored on the play due to an error to tie the game at 4-4). McCarthy drove in two of the runs in the inning, producing one of six hits in the inning.
 
UTPB made it interesting in the top of the eighth inning with Van Vranken hitting his second home run of the game. The Falcons had three hits in the inning and cut the LCU lead to 9-8. They had the tying run at third base, but were unable to get the tying run across. The Chaps grabbed insurance in the bottom of the eighth inning with Johnson connecting on a three-run home run.
 
McFall (3-for-4) and JP Rousseau (3-for-5) each had three-hit performances behind McCarthy's four-hit outing. Kevin Barnes was 3-for-5 for UTPB and Van Vranken finished the game with a trio of runs-driven-in.
 
Russell Reber started on the mound for LCU and went five innings. He allowed a run off eight hits and struck out five batters. Senior Brian Baker claimed the win (1-0) pitching an inning in relief. LCU used six pitchers, with Brent Bezio garnering the save. UTPB's Chris Cano took the loss (4-5). The starter went 5.1 innings and allowed five runs off nine hits and struck out eight batters.
 
The Chaps completed a three-game series sweep and went 5-0 on the season against UTPB. The meeting was the final game in Heartland Conference play for the Falcons, who ended their season 19-30 overall and 11-16 in the conference. They move to the Lone Star Conference next season.
 
LCU ends the regular season 35-15 overall and 20-7 in conference. The Chaps, in their first season of Heartland Conference and NCAA Div. II post season eligibility, head to the Heartland Conference Tournament as the two-seed and will open the four-team double-elimination tournament facing three-seed Oklahoma Christian Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at University of Mary Hardin-Baylor's Red Murff Field. Host St. Edward's and St. Mary's complete the tournament field.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
.383 – The Chaps hit .383 as a team in the series.
5/8 – LCU had their leadoff batter reach five out of eight times in the game.
13 – With Brendan McCarthy and Brennan Johnson each hitting their first home run of the season, LCU has received home runs from 13 different players this season.
14 – The Falcons grounded out 14 times in the game and flew out four times.
11 – Hunter McFall produced 11 hits in the three-game series, hitting .579 with nine RBI in the three-game set.