LUBBOCK, Texas (February 19, 2018) – No.7 Lubbock Christian University took advantage of No.20 Angelo State University's missed opportunities and was able to claim the three-game series with a 5-4 win at a windy Hays Field for their first win streak of the season.
 
Angelo State was unable to take full advantage of seven walks issued and two hit batters by LCU pitching, and the leadoff batter reaching on six occasions. ASU was 2-for-20 with runners on base and stranded nine runners in the game.
 
Of ASU's two hits with runners on base, one came in the first inning and the other did not occur until the ninth inning. ASU took advantage of the opportunities in the first inning, as Jacob Boston drove in a pair of runs with a double. The runners that scored, Nick Novak and Michael Urquidi, had reached base on walks. Following Boston's double, the Rams would go hitless the following 18 at-bats with a runner on base.
 
LCU split a 2-0 deficit in half in the bottom of the first inning with Ryan Rogers grounding out with one out to score Will Clark. The run was unearned as Andrew Pratt, the prior batter, hit a one-out single to centerfield, which was booted allowing Clark and Pratt to advance into scoring position.
 
The Chaps tied the game in the fourth inning with a James Hardberger solo blast over the left field wall. LCU went on to take the lead in the fifth inning with a two-run home run over the right field wall by Logan Nethercot. The LCU lead was extended to 5-2 in the eighth inning off a high hit solo home run by Braden Hayward over the left field wall.
 
ASU made things interesting in the ninth inning, as the first four batters reached base safely. The Rams had the bases loaded, but Chaps closer Nick Hooper was able to force the the Rams into a double play followed by a strikeout to end the game with the tying run left stranded at third base. The save was the second of the season for Hooper.
 
Callan Johnson claimed the win for LCU (2-0), as he went six innings and allowed two runs off two hits. He struck out six batters and walked six. Shane Browning suffered the loss for ASU (2-1). He allowed five runs (four earned) off seven hits.
 
Boston, who struck out to end the game, was 2-of-4 from the plate with two RBI for the Rams. LCU was led at the plate by Nethercot (2-for-3) and Pratt (2-for-4), who each had two hits. Nethercot also had two RBI.
 
The victory for the Chaps is their second straight win for their first win streak of the season. They are 3-4 on the season and 2-1 against nationally ranked teams. ASU fell to 7-3 on the season.
 
LCU remains home and will host Metropolitan State University – Denver for a three-game series beginning Thursday.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
.067 | ASU was 2-of-30 in the series in two-out at-bats.
.242 | Despite the early-season hitting woes LCU has had, they did out-hit ASU. LCU had a .242 average in the series and held ASU to a .230 average.
2 | ASU attempted steals twice in the game, but each runner was thrown out by Chaps catcher Andrew Pratt, who kept ASU without a stolen base for consecutive games. The Rams were averaging 2.5 stolen bases a game prior to Sunday.
3 | Of ASU's four runs, three of the runners that scored were on base due to walks.
Dadas
3 | LCU had three home runs in the game. The last time they had three home runs in a game was Feb. 5, 2017, with three against Southern Arkansas.
5 | Logan Nethercot and Will Clark co-led LCU in the series with a five hits.
7-1 | LCU had a 7-1 scoring advantage in the series in two-out RBI.
22-10 | ASU stranded 22 runners in the series compared to 10 by LCU.