LUBBOCK, Texas (March 17, 2018) – No.6 Lubbock Christian University and St. Edward's split a pair of games in a nonconference doubleheader, and each were a difference of one run, as LCU won the opener 2-1 before falling in the second game 1-0. The two teams split the four-game weekend series at Hays Field.
 
Ricky Contreras registered the win on the mound in the opener, as the junior pitched his first complete game of the season and his ninth of his LCU career. In the seven-inning outing, Contreras allowed one run on five hits and struck out six Hilltoppers. He did not allow a hit to the last nine batters he faced in placing his record at 3-1 on the season. Contreras also had "first-pitch strike" on 23 of the 29 batters faced. He kept SEU from producing a hit with runners in scoring position (0-for-4) and did not allow a leadoff batter aboard.
 
SEU did strike first, with a double steal leading to a run in the second inning. LCU countered in the home half of the second inning with a sacrifice fly by Braden Hayward tying the game at 1-1. With one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, James Hardberger provided LCU the go-ahead run with a single up the middle to plate Ryan Rogers, who had reached on a triple.
 
Andrew Pratt led LCU at the plate with a 2-for-2 performance and a double. Tanner Lawson (2-2) suffered the loss for SEU, allowing two runs off six hits in a complete game (six innings) effort.  
 
None of the pitchers allowed an extra hit or an earned run in the second game. An LCU error set up a sacrifice fly by Derek Ramos in the sixth inning, which was the difference of the game. Evan Tubbs (five innings), Austin Weaver (one inning) and Jake Davis (three innings) combined to hold LCU to three hits. LCU went a stretch of 20 consecutive at-bats without a hit. Tubbs took the win (1-1) and Davis registered the save (2).
 
Meanwhile, LCU's Daniel Crooks (2-2) suffered the loss without allowing an earned run. He went 7.1 innings and allowed seven hits and struck out six batters.
 
LCU moved to 15-7 and SEU went to 12-9 following the four-game series split. They will meet again with Heartland Conference implications on the line Apr. 27-18 in Austin, Texas. LCU remains home Friday to host Oklahoma Christian for a four-game series, which will open Heartland Conference play.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
2 | Ryan Rogers' triple in the opening game was his second career triple as a member of the Chaps.
3 | LCU produced three sacrifice flies in the series. They had seven on the season through 18 games prior to this series.
8-1 | SEU had an 8-1 advantage in the series in bases loaded at-bats, but they out-sit LCU 2-1 in the scenario. Ryan Rogers was 1-for-1 in the series with the bases loaded.
10-3 | The Hilltoppers had a 10-3 scoring advantage in two-out RBI. LCU was 3-for-33 (.091) in two-out at-bats during the series.
15 | William Harrison led SEU with 15 total bases in the series (off 9-for-16 batting in the series, .563). The next closest Hilltopper had six total bases.