ALAMOSA, Colo. (March 3, 2018) – For a second consecutive game, No.10 Lubbock Christian University walloped five home runs, and Saturday's long balls helped the Chaparrals score 13 unanswered runs (eight runs in the eighth inning) to complete a three-game series sweep with a 15-4 win over Adams State.
Will Clark hit two of the home runs and contributed five RBI to help LCU to their ninth consecutive win.
The 10 combined home runs over the final two games of the series (five in each game) marked the most home runs in a two-game span since crushing 13 homers in a span in May of 2010. It also marked the first time LCU had hit five or more home runs in consecutive games since hitting five home runs in consecutive games on May 2, 2008 during the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament.
LCU opened the game playing from behind, having to come back from a pair of two-run deficits. ASU took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning with doubles from Patrick Huffaker and Billy Ryan sparking the early runs for the Grizzlies. Clark's first home run of the afternoon came in the third inning with a two-run homer to tie the game 2-2. Chaps starting pitcher
Daniel Crooks lost command in the fourth inning, and a pair of hit batters and wild pitches led to ASU regaining the lead at 4-2. The Chaps bounced back from the deficit in the sixth inning by way of a
James Hardberger two-run homer, which tied the game up at 4-4.
The Chaps exploded for eight runs in the eighth inning off six hits. They hit for the cycle as a team in the inning, with
Andrew Pratt and Hardberger each hitting doubles,
Braden Hayward hitting a triple and
Ryan Rogers (two-run) and Clark (three-run) each hitting home runs (
Scotland Church had the single).
They added three more runs in the ninth inning, with
Skyler Nelson capping the home run frenzy with a two-run homer. Nethercot closed the scoring with a RBI-single.
LCU produced 17 hits, with Hayward (3-for-4) and Clark (3-for-5) co-leading LCU with three hits. Hardberger finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBI.
Daniel Crooks went 5.2 innings in his start on the mound before handing the ball over to
Ethan Crooks, who claimed the win (2-0) holding the Grizzlies to two hits in 2.1 innings. David Maldonado allowed four runs in his start for ASU on the hill, but did not figure into the decision, as reliever Andrew Shaw allowed six runs off five hits in one inning to take the loss (0-2).
LCU improved to 10-4 overall and they have won nine straight games, while ASU remains winless (0-13). The Chaps head to Laredo, Texas Friday for a non-conference four-game series, which opens with a doubleheader and a noon start.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
0 | Official at-bats with the bases loaded for LCU.
.538 |
Braden Hayward led LCU in the series with seven hits and a .538 average.
8 | Number of two-out RBI for the Chaps, who completed the series with 13 (allowed three).
10-for-16 | The Chaps were 10-for-16 with runners in scoring position Saturday and completed the series hitting .400 (14/35) in the situation.
11-1 | LCU had an 11-1 advantage in the series in home runs and a 19-6 advantage in extra-base hits.
17 | LCU's 17 hits was a season high
39 | LCU's 39 total bases were a season high and the most since 48 on Apr. 26, 2013 at Wayland Baptist.
