LUBBOCK, Texas (March 16, 2017) – The No.6 Lubbock Christian University Chaparrals opened a four-game nonconference series with a doubleheader split Friday at Hays Field, winning the opener 7-6 before falling 12-2 in the second game, which ended LCU's seven-game home win streak.
 
Chaps starting pitcher Ryan Johnson did not allow a hit in the opening game until the fourth inning and limited the Hilltoppers to two hits through the first 16 batters he faced. Thankfully for the Chaps, they built some offense before Johnson ran into trouble. Rogers opened the game's scoring and a two-run second inning with a RBI-single. Andres Negron and Logan Nethercot added a run with RBI base hits in the fourth inning to give LCU a 4-0 lead.
 
Zack Schindler split the Chaps lead in half with a two-run single in the fifth inning. Braden Hayward fouled out, but it resulted as a sac fly RBI in the fifth inning. LCU made it  7-2 with a two-run sixth inning after leading off the inning with a double from Negron and a triple from Logan Nethercot.
 
LCU would need the lead, as SEU stormed back with four runs off six hits in the top of the seventh inning. The first three batters reached base and William Hairston highlighted the inning with a two-run home run. SEU would eventually get the tying and lead-run on base, but Shandon Herrera came in relief and closed the door to garner his first save in a Chaps uniform.
 
Nethercot was 3-of-4 for LCU with a pair of RBI. James Hardberger (2-for-4) and Negron (2-for-2) each had two hits. Hairston led SEU going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Johnson left the game in the fifth inning, but received the win (3-1) allowing two runs off three hits.  Juan Cortina suffered the loss (2-3), allowing two earned runs off nine hits in five innings. LCU plated five unearned runs in the game.
 
The Chaps were plagued by 13 walks issued in the second game. Andrew Pratt had a sacrifice fly RBI in the first inning for a 1-0 Chaps lead, but things went downhill from there for LCU. SEU answered in the top of the second inning with three runs off four hits. The Hilltoppers added to the 3-1 lead with a five-run fourth inning. They loaded the bases and scored a pair of runs on bases-loaded walks. Dylan May placed two home with a two-run single later in the inning. SEU ended up with 12 straight runs, as four walks in the fifth inning led to a pair of runs and Derek Ramos capped the scoring with a double in a two-run sixth. An error led to LCU scoring the game's final run in the sixth inning.
 
Hairston was 4-for-4 in the game with two RBI. LCU was held to four hits and Will Clark collected three of them (3-for-3). Blake Holub was credited with the win in relief, allowing one run off on hit in 4.1 innings. Callan Johnson suffered his first loss of the season (3-1) for LCU. He went 3.1 innings and allowed five runs off six hits.
 
The split places LCU with a 14-6 record on the season and SEU moved to 11-8. The two teams conclude their four-game series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
4 | Will Clark (4-for-7) and Logan Nethercot (4-for-8) led LCU on the day with four combined hits.
6 | William Hairston led SEU with six hits on the day and finished with four RBI.
10 | SEU produced 10 two-out RBI on the day. Six different Hilltoppers have a two-out RBI in the series.
13 | Ryan Rogers extended his streak of consecutive games with an RBI to 13 in the opener, but was held without an RBI in the second game.He hit streak ended at 12 as well.
13 | The 13 walks issued is the most issued by the Chaps pitching staff with 15-year head coach Nathan Blackwood at the helm.  Records prior to his arrival did not log the statistic.
21 | SEU hit into 21 ground outs in the combined two games (eight for LCU).