LUBBOCK, Texas (February 9, 2018) – Regis starting pitchers Brad Thoutt and Noah Gotsis were each within three outs away of completing a no-hitter, as their pitching spectacle led to Regis completing a pair of one-hit victories Friday in a doubleheader to open the 2018 season. The Rangers defeated No.7 Lubbock Christian 5-0 and 4-1 to hand LCU their first 0-1 and 0-2 start since the 2007 season.
 
LCU had won their last three season openers and 10 of their prior 11 season openers, and their 5-0 loss in the opening game marked the first time they have been shutout in a season opener since Feb. 1, 2014 (a 1-0 loss at Hays Field to Adams State, which was part of a tripleheader due to weather).  Runs were not the only thing LCU struggled to achieve.  They combined for two hits in the combined two games.
 
In the opener, Brad Thoutt was two outs away from a no-hitter, going 6.1 innings without allowing a hit, but his bid was interrupted by a pinch hit single from Connor McCafferty.  The hit not only broke up the no-hit bid, but also the night from Thoutt, who was bouncing back from an injury that limited him to five games last season.  McCafferty was one of four base runners in the game for LCU. Thoutt, who struck out nine batters in 6.1 innings, walked three LCU batters.  The closest to scoring was Will Clark, who was stranded at third base in the third inning.  Clark was representing the tying run after Regis took a 1-0 lead in the first inning off a solo home run from Connor Rochon.  Ricky Contreras started on the mound for LCU (0-1) and went five innings allowing one run off four hits.  The Chaps trailed 1-0 when they went with Nathan Dockery out of the bullpen trialing 1-0 in the sixth inning.  Three of the first four batters Dockery faced reached base to load the bases and LCU was unable to get out of the jam.  With the bases loaded, Zach Dedin hit a two-out two-run single and it was followed by a two-run single from Coby Zimmerman to cap a four-run sixth inning.
 
Gotsis went the distance with a complete game in the second game, throwing 86 pitches in the process. He no-hit the Chaps through six innings, but Clark broke up the no-hitter with a leadoff double in the bottom of the seventh inning. McCafferty would produce another productive pinch hit for LCU, grounding out to score Clark for LCU's only run of the doubleheader. Gotsis went seven innings and allowed one run off one hit. He also struckout nine Chaps.  Regis led 4-0 prior to McCafferty's RBI. The Rangers got to Chaps starting pitcher Daniel Crooks in the first inning with a trio of singles to take a 1-0 lead. They scored one run in four of the first five innings of the game. Crooks went four innings and allowed four runs (three earned) off seven hits in four innings. He walked a trio of batters. His brother Ethan Crooks, making his LCU debut, pitched the remaining three innings for LCU and did not allow a hit while striking out five batters.
 
Dedin led Regis on the day going 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI on the day. Logan Heflebower also had three hits on the day for the Rangers, who open the season 2-0.  The two teams resume their four-game series with a regular nine-inning contest Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
0-19 | LCU was 0-for-19 at the plate to open the season until McCafferty's single to end Thoutt's no-hit bid.
0-15 | The Chaps were 0-for-15 in at-bats with runners on base in the doubleheader.
0-2 | LCU's 0-2 start is their worst start since opening the 2007 season 0-4, as they were swept on the road at California Baptist.
1.1 | Freshman Shandon Herrera made his LCU debut in the opener and pitched 1.1 scoreless innings. Joined with Ethan Crooks, Chaps pitchers making their debut combined for 4.1 innings without allowing a hit or run.
2-2 | LCU falls to 2-2 all-time against Regis.
10-5 | Under head coach Nathan Blackwood, LCU is now 10-5 all-time in season openers.