Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (Mar. 9, 2017) – No.19 Lubbock Christian University and Oklahoma Christian University each overcame three-run deficits in a Heartland Conference doubleheader split Thursday at Dobson Field, as LCU won the opener 11-5 before falling 5-4.
 
In the opening game, LCU starting pitcher Rickey Contreras did not appear as if he would make it out of the first inning, but he went the distance for his first complete game of the season. Chad Kennedy hit a three-run first inning home run for the Eagles and they took a 3-0 lead. Kennedy had come up again in the second inning with the bases loaded and one out, but a chopper hit back to Contreras resulted in a 1-2-3 double play to end the threat.
 
Dalton Rentz retired the first eight batters he faced, but with two outs in the bases empty in the third inning, the Chaps sent seven straight batters the plate and relied on a three-run home run by Caleb Koedyker to cap a six-run inning for LCU.  The Chaps followed with a four-run fourth innings. Jaime Bustamante drove in two of the four runs off of a double and LCU led 10-3.
 
Contreras went seven innings and allowed five runs off nine hits and improved to 2-0. Rentz suffered his first loss (4-1) and allowed 10 runs off nine hits in 3.2 innings.
 
Brandon Rix led LCU going 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI. Tony Reyes, Ryan Rogers and Bustamante each had two RBI, behind the trio produced by Koedyker. Cory Duran (2-for-4 with 2 RBI) and Kennedy (2-for-4 with 3 RBI) each had offensive minded performances for OC.
 
Rogers opened the second game scoring with a two-out double in the first inning for a 1-0 LCU lead. Brandon Urquizo went 3-for-4 and started it off with a triple in the second inning for a 2-0 lead. It was followed by a double from Josh Narvaiz to make it 3-0. Urquizo provided LCU a 4-1 lead with a RBI in the fourth inning before the tide turned.
 
OC had the leadoff batter reach base six of the first seven innings, but OC was unable to take advantage of the early base runner reaching base until the seventh inning. Jake Baxter hit a two-run double to cut LCU's lead to 4-3. In the eighth inning with two outs and runners on the corners, LCU catcher Chase Simmons attempted to pick-off an Eagles runner at third base and his throw got away down the left field line. The throw resulted in the tying run scoring and Gabe Rodery, who also claimed the win in relief, hit a two-out double to give the Eagles the lead.
 
The Chaps were able to get Urquizo aboard to lead off the ninth inning, but OC reliever Jake Moore was able to strikeout the next three batters and Urquizo was stranded at second base.
 
Duran, who had a home run in the second inning, led OC with a 3-for-4 plate performance. Rodery claimed the win (2-0) in relief for the Eagles. LCU started Christian Marquez, who went without a decision in 5.2 innings. He allowed three runs off seven hits and struck out six batters. Brent Bezio suffered the loss (1-2), allowing two runs off three hits in an inning of relief.
 
LCU moved to 14-7 overall with the split and are 1-1 in Heartland Conference play. The second game loss ended their win streak at six games. The opening game win placed them at 12-2 all-time in conference openers under head coach Nathan Blackwood. OC had their record go to 12-9 overall and 1-1 in conference.
 
The two teams will conclude the series Friday at 1 p.m. from Dobson Field.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
2 | Cory Duran hit two solo home runs Thursday for OC. He led the Eagles at the plate hitting .625 (5-for-8).
3-for-3 | Chase Simmons was 3-for-3 reaching base in a leadoff at-bat for LCU.
4 | Brandon Rix led LCU with four hits on the day.
6-for-8 | OC had their leadoff batter reach base in six of their eight innings of at-bats in the second game. Overall on the day, OC was 9-for-15 getting the leadoff batter aboard (60%).
8-2 | LCU outscored OC 8-2 in two-out RBIs.
11 | LCU produced 11 hits with runners in scoring position.