LUBBOCK, Texas (April 7, 2017) – No.24 St. Edward's University took out their frustration of losing their Heartland Conference series against No.13 Lubbock Christian University, as they followed Thursday's doubleheader sweep with six home runs Friday to defeat LCU 23-9 to avoid the series sweep at Hays Field. The loss ended LCU's eight-game home win streak.
 
The game opened like the prior two in the series, with LCU having a big offensive inning. A two-run triple by Brent Stewart in the second inning sparked a five-run inning and LCU led 5-0 after two innings in the books. SEU answered in the top half of the third inning with five runs of their own. Nine batters went to the plate for SEU and it set the stage of what was yet to come in the game's remainder.  The difference in the third inning was the five runs were produced by infield choppers and bloops and not by the long ball. The teams matched each other with a run each in the fourth inning, with LCU's run coming across on a solo home run by Brent Stewart for his third of the season, and the score was tied 6-6 after four complete innings.
 
In the fifth inning, the Hilltoppers produced their first home run of the game. Jacob Vasquez hit his second home run of the season and of the series, and the two run shot was part of a four-run top of the fifth inning to give SEU a 10-6 lead. LCU would not be able to match the four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Ryan Rogers' RBI-single would serve as their lone run of the inning to cut the deficit to 10-7.
 
All six home runs for SEU were tallied in the final four innings of the game. Following Vasquez in the fifth inning, the Hilltoppers produced a home run in the sixth inning (two-run home run by Blake Alexander), a home run in the seventh inning (Romeo Cortina three-run homer) and three home runs in the eighth inning (Hunter Corson had two solo home runs and TJ Giselbach with a three-run home run). SEU had 17 hits over the final four innings and 11 of the hits were for extra bases, as they had five doubles in the span to go along with the six home runs.
 
The Chaps used six pitchers for the first time since May 7, 2016 (vs. Texas Permian Basin). Russell Reber wnt 4.1 innings for his shortest outing of the season. He ended up with receiving his first loss (7-1) of the season, allowing nine runs (seven earned) off 11 hits in 4.1 innings. Brent Bezio, Nathan Dockery and Reagan Lucia each lasted just 0.1 innings of relief. Five of the six pitchers allowed at least two earned runs.
 
Ballard Infante had his team's offense guide his way to the win (4-2), as he went five innings and allowed seven runs (six earned) off seven hits. He struck out seven batters.
 
Eight SEU members had at least two hits in the game, with Courson producing a 5-for-6 performance to mark the only Hilltopper with more than three hits. Cortina finished the game with four RBI and was one of seven Hilltoppers with at least two RBI in the game.
 
Brandon Urquizo went 2-for-3 for LCU. Stewart and Caleb Koedyker were each 2-for-4 in the loss, with Stewart leading LCU with a trio of runs-batted-in.
 
LCU fell to 26-10 overall and 9-3 Heartland Conference play with the loss. SEU improved to 22-14 overall and 9-6 in conference play. The Chaps hit the road next week, heading to Goodwell, Okla. for their final Heartland Conference series against Oklahoma Panhandle State, who is moving to NAIA affiliation at the conclusion of this season. The series begins Thursday at OPSU.
 
A LOOK INTO THE GAME TOTALS
LCU Records
Mark-Number-Highest Since…Additional Info
Runs by an Opposing Team – 23 – 24 on 3/13/10 by Oklahoma Christian
RBI by an Opposing Team – 21 – 26 on 3/30/10 by Southern Nazarene
At-Bats by an Opposing Team – 48 – 48 by West Texas A&M 4/7/15
Hits by an Opposing Team – 25 – surpasses the mark of 24 by Wayland Baptist on 4/18/11 (24 was the most on record of opposing team game-by-game records on file since 2006 season)
Home Runs By An Opponent – 6 – 6 by Oklahoma City on 5/12/10
Doubles Allowed By an Opponent – 7 – 7 by Wayland Baptist on 3/3/15
 
SEU Records
Hits – 25 – Tied for fourth-most in program history (most since 25 on 3/22/11 at Abilene Christian)
Home Runs – 6 – Tied for second most in program history (most since 6 on 4/19/08 vs. Texas Permian Basin)
Doubles – 7 – Tied for fifth-most in program history
RBI – 21 – Eighth-most in program history
Individual Hits – Hunter Courson – 5 – One hit shy of program record
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
.667 | William Hairston was 8-for-12 (.667) at the plate to lead SEU in the series.
.543 | Brandon Urquizo went 6-for-11 (.543) in the series and co-led LCU with five RBI in the three-game set. He produced an on-base percentage of .583.
.425 | Both teams were 17-of-40 (.425) in the series with runners in scoring position.
3-for-4 | LCU was 3-for-4 as a team in bases loaded at-bats against SEU.
6 | Five Chaps had six hits in the series.
6-for-8 | Ryan Rogers was 6-for-8 getting aboard in a leadoff at-bat during the series.
7 | SEU's Jacob Vasquez led the team in the series with seven RBI.
9 | The two teams combined for nine home runs in the series, with seven hit by SEU. LCU had not allowed a home run at home this season prior to the series. All nine home runs in the series were hit over the left field wall. Eight home runs were hit Friday as there was a 20 MPH wind blowing out to left field.
12 | SEU's six home runs were responsible for 12 of the 23 runs.
44 | Each team completed the series with 44 hits. LCU had a .407 to .396 edge in batting average in the series.  
66 | The two teams combined for 66 runs in the series, with LCU averaging 10.3 runs and SEU averaging 12 runs per game in the series.