LUBBOCK, Texas (February 17, 2018) – No.20 Angelo State University's Tyler Lesley held No.7 Lubbock Christian University to an unearned run off four hits in eight innings and the Rams opened a three-game series with a 4-1 win over the Chaparrals Saturday at Hays Field.
 
Lesley (2-1), a transfer from Incarnate Word, was able to out duel LCU's Ryan Johnson, who went seven innings and allowed three runs (two earned) off five hits. Johnson struck out eight batters in his start and suffered his first loss of the season (0-1).
 
The Chaps committed two errors in the game and both occurred in the second inning and allowed the Rams to take a 1-0 lead. They extended the lead to 3-0 in the third inning with a pair of runs, with Jacob Boston following a pair of infield singles with a double down the left field line for the game's only extra-base hit. ASU made it 4-0 with a run in the top of the ninth inning.
 
LCU made things interesting in th bottom of the ninth inning. Logan Nethercot led off with a single, Will Clark followed with a walk and Ryan Rogers loaded the bases with an unsuccessful fielder's choice put-out attempt leading to an error.  With the bases loaded and one out, LCU's James Hardberger grounded out to score LCU's first run. Scotland Church pinch hit to make his LCU debut, representing the tying run, but ASU closer Kellen Rholl forced the Oregon State transfer into grounding out to end the game.
 
Clark led LCU at the plate going 2-for-3. Jonathan Soberanes (2-for-2) and Brad Mathiowetz (2-for-4) each had multi-hit performances for ASU.
 
LCU fell to 1-4 with the loss, while ASU improved to 7-1. The two teams resume the three-game series Sunday at 3 p.m. at Hays Field.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS 
0 – LCU went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and 1-for-12 with runners on base.
0.5 – LCU has averaged 0.5 runs in games Ryan Johnson has started.
3-for-3 – ASU's Jonathan Soberanes was 3-for-3 in reaching base in a lead-off at-bat.
1-for-19 – The two teams went a combined 1-for-19 (LCU was 0-for-9) at the plate in two-out at-bats.
7 – LCU has lost seven straight games to ASU, who builds their all-time series lead to 15-8 over LCU. Chaps are 5-4 all-time at Hays Field against ASU.
10 – LCU pitchers Ryan Johnson and Shandon Herrera combined for 10 strikeouts, marking the first time LCU struckout at least 10 batters in three consecutive games since Feb.5 & 10, 2012.
24.2 – The streak of consecutive innings pitched by LCU pitchers in their first active season pitching for the Chaps without allowing an earned run ended at 24.2 with ASU's first run in the third inning. The first run allowed in the third was also the first earned run allowed in a sequence of 24 consecutive innings.
500 – The win was the 500^th career coaching win for ASU's Kevin Brooks.