LUBBOCK, Texas (April 6, 2017) – No.13 Lubbock Christian University combined for 22 runs off 34 hits in a doubleheader against the nation's sixth best pitching pitching staff and was able to garner an 11-7 and 11-6 victory Thursday to sweep a Heartland Conference doubleheader over No.24 St. Edward's University at Hays Field.
 
St. Edward's entered the series ranked sixth nationally in NCAA Div. II in ERA (2.69) and fifth in hits allowed per nine innings (7.1). The Hilltoppers had only allowed more than seven runs in a game once prior to LCU scoring 11 in each game Thursday. SEU had not allowed 11 runs in a game since May 2, 2015 (at Newman).
 
The Chaps offense started off the day's scoring in the first inning of their opening contest. Brandon Rix singled and advanced to second base on a wild pitch to set up a RBI-single from Tony Reyes for a 1-0 lead. SEU matched the run with a sacrifice fly in the third inning to tie the game at 1-1, but LCU regained the lead with a three-run fourth inning. Pitcher Brandon Boone had retired seven straight Chaps batters, but in the bottom fot he fourth inning, LCU had five of their first six batters reach base and the lone player that did not had a sacrifice fly for an RBI. Chase Simmons, Caleb Koedyker and Josh Narvaiz each drove in a run to help LCU gain a 4-1 lead. The Hilltoppers came right back with a two-run fifth inning to cut the LCU lead to 4-3 before LCU exploded for a six-run inning in the fifth inning. Eleven Chaps batters stepped into the batter's box in the inning and Brandon Urquizo highlighted the inning with a three-run home run for a 10-3 LCU advantage. The Hilltoppers came back with three runs in the sixth inning to cut LCU's lead to 10-6, but the Chaps kept their distance in the 11-7 LCU win.
 
Ricky Contreras claimed the win on the hill (6-0). He went six innings and allowed seven runs (three earned) off 12 hits. Reagan Lucia came in with the tying run on deck with no outs in the seventh inning and faced three batters to claim his second save of the season. SEU used five pitchers, with starter Brandon Boone claiming the loss (5-2). He allowed seven hits leading to four runs over 3.1 innings.
 
Five different Chaps had multi-hit performances in the opener. Urquizo was 2-for-4 with a trio of runs-batted-in and Koedyker was 2-for-3 with three runs and two RBI to lead the way. William Hairston was 4-for-4 in the losing cause for SEU.
 
SEU pitcher Stuart Sringer entered the second game without a blemish on his record, but the Chaps were able to get to him early. Josh Narvaiz (second inning) and Ryan Rogers (third inning) each had an RBI single for a 2-0 LCU lead after three innings. They opened the seventh inning with seven straight batters reaching base, which spelled the end of Springer's start as he was unable to record an out through the string of batters in the inning. The Chaps would produce six hits in the inning, with Rogers scoring a pair on a double.  LCU built the lead to 8-0, but SEU reliever Ryan Hill began to quiet the Chaps offense. Hill threw 91 pitches in relief and kept the Chaps off the scoreboard the following three innings while his offense started to catch up to the Chaps production.
 
LCU starting pitcher Daniel Crooks did not allow a hit through the first 3.1 innings, but things got interesting in the sixth inning. A pair of leadoff walks by Crooks was followed by a two-run triple by Blake Alexander. SEU tallied three runs in the inning and cut LCU's lead to 8-3.  In the eighth inning, Jacob Vasquez hit a three-run home run to pull the Hilltoppers within two runs (8-6).
 
The Chaps answered with three runs in the home half of the eighth inning. LCU capitalized off a pair of SEU errors with a Chase Simmons triple and RBI single from Brent Stewart to close the game's scoring with an 11-6 LCU advantage.
 
Crooks went 5.2 innings and struck out eight batters. He allowed three runs off five hits and improved to 4.1 on the season. Springer suffered his first loss (6-1) allowing eight runs off 12 hits in three innings. Nick Hooper claimed his team leading sixth save with a two-inning relief outing to close the game.
 
The Chaps produced 20 hits in the second game, with Rogers, Jaime Bustamante and Brandon Rix each going 3-for-5. Eight different Chaps had multi-hit performances at the plate. Rogers led LCU with a trio of runs-batted-in.
 
LCU improved their Heartland Conference lead with the pair of wins and are now 9-2 in conference. Their eighth consecutive home win has them at 26-9 overall. SEU falls to 21-14 overall and 8-6 in conference play. The two teams close out their three-game series Friday at 2 p.m. at Hays Field.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
.466 | LCU hit .466 on the day with 34 hits combined in the two games.
.571 | Chase Simmons leads LCU in the series with a .571 average, going 4-for-7 with a double and a triple to score four runs.
.625 | William Hairston leads SEU in the series with a 5-for-8 plate appearance. All five hits are singles.
1 | Jacob Vasquez's home run for SEU in the second game was the first home run allowed at Hays Field by LCU this season.
2-for-3 | The Chaps are 2-for-3 in the series with the bases loaded.
3 | LCU entered the game ranked second nationally in triples, but produced three Thursday to place them 20 triples, which moves them back into the national lead in the category.
3-for-3 | Jaime Bustamante is 3-for-3 in the series in two-out at-bats.
5 | The two teams combined for five sacrifice flies Thursday, with SEU producing four SAC-fly RBI.
5 | LCU entered the series with the better defensive numbers, but they committed five errors Thursday, which led to five unearned runs of SEU's 13 runs scored on the day.
19-4 | LCU improved their mark to 19-4 when scoring first.
8 | LCU has eight players in the series with at least two runs-batted-in.
28 | Brandon Rix extended his streak of consecutive games reaching base safely to 28 games.