WICHITA, Kan. (March 30, 2018) - After scoring a pair of runs in extra innings, No.9 Lubbock Christian University let a 4-2 lead slip away in a 5-4 walk-off win by Newman University for their first Heartland Conference loss, but the Chaparrals rebounded to take the second game of the doubleheader 9-3, spearheaded by five runs-batted-in from Braden Hayward, to take three of the four games in their first conference road series of the season.
 
With the opening game tied 2-2 in the eighth inning, of the originally scheduled seven-inning affair, LCU's Keaton Greenwalt put the Chaps up 3-2 with an RBI-single to centerfield to score Hayward from second base.  Greenwalt advanced to third base on a single by Andres Negron.  With runners on the corners and two outs, Negron created a rundown between first and second base to create a timing play in efforts to score Greenwalt from third base.  Newman threw the ball away and everyone was safe on the play, including Greenwalt to put the Chaps up 4-2.  In the bottom of the eighth inning, Ryan Johnson, working his third inning of relief of starting pitcher Chandler Casey walked Clay Druin to open the inning and Paul Rupnik followed two batters later with a two-run home run to tie the game 4-4. Brian Canfield followed with a single to put the winning run aboard. A wild pitch advanced him to second and a two-out ground ball to Chaps second baseman Eddie Vasquez took a crazy hop resulting in an infield single to place the winning run at third base. Ryan Johnson, who entered the game with one wild pitch on the season, threw his second wild pitch of the inning and Canfield scored from third pace to erupt the Jets dugout in celebration of their first win over a ranked team since 2015.

Newman matched LCU in runs throughout the game. Ryan Rogers sacrifice fly RBI in the third inning was matched in the bottom of the fourth inning with Rupnik scoring off an outfield error. LCU regained the lead (2-1) in the fifth inning with Rogers singling for his second RBI of the contest. That run was matched in the home-half of the inning on a home run by Druin. 
 
Johnson suffered the loss (4-2) allowing three runs off four hits in 2.2 innings. Casey made his second start of the season and allowed two runs off five hits in 5.0 innings. He struck out six batters. Collin Loutensock relieved Roger Wilson for Newman and was credited with the win (1-0).
 
Rogers was 2-for-3 in the opener with two RBI. Greenwalt also had two hits (2-for-4) for the Chaps with two runs and an RBI. Rupnik led Newman with a 2-for-4 performance with two RBI.
 
The loss appeared to linger with the Chaps, as they were discombobulated in the start of the second game. Druin opened the bottom of the first inning with a walk and Ked Bailey followed with a sacrifice bunt attempt, which went haywire. LCU committed two errors trying to field the bunt and the errors led to both Druin and Bailey scoring in little-league style to give the Jets a 2-0 lead. The tandem of Druin and Bailey struck again in the third inning, with another Bailey bunt leading to trouble.  Bailey's bunt resulted in a base hit and the Jets would end up with both in scoring position with no outs.  The moment proved to be the turning point of the game, as Chaps starting pitcher Callan Johnson regrouped to strikeout the next three batters and held the Jets lead to 2-0.
 
The next half inning (top of the fourth inning), LCU rattled off four consecutive hits with two-outs, and a two-run single by Hayward tied the game 2-2. Greenwalt would double down the left field line and give the Chaps a 3-2 lead.  Newman tied the game 3-3 with a Tyler Push solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning for the first homer allowed by Callan Johnson this season.
 
The Jets pitching fell apart in the fifth inning, as they used four different pitchers in the inning. NU retired the Chaps leadoff batter, but they responded with the next nine batters reaching base safely. LCU produced four walks and five hits in the inning. The big hit was a bases loaded double by Hayward to score a trio of runs. Seven runs eventually came across home plate and LCU led 10-3. NU scored a run in the fifth inning and Canfield hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning to get the Jets within three runs (10-7), but the following four batters were retired to seal the LCU win.
 
Shandon Herrera collected his second save of the season, retiring the Jets in order in the seventh inning. Callan Johnson (5-1) allowed four runs off five hits in 4.2 innings to claim the win. Sam Hersh allowed seven runs off eight hits in 4.1 innings, resulting in his record dropping to 1-3.
 
Hayward finished the game with a career high four hits (4-for-4) and he produced five RBI. Greenwalt finished the game 2-for-4.
 
LCU had their record move to 7-1 in conference play with the split. The Chaps are now 9-2 on the road and 22-8 overall. NU moved to 11-19 overall and 3-5 in conference play. The Chaps remain on the road for the second leg of their eight-game road trip Friday in San Antonio, Texas facing St. Mary's in a four-game conference series

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
.333 | LCU, hitting .326 as a team in the series, had eight players hit at least .333 in the series.
0-2 | The loss in the opener Friday placed LCU 0-2 this season in extra-inning game.
0 | The number of hits with the bases loaded for Newman in the series, as they were 0-for-5 with the bases loaded.
2 | Carrying over from a 4-3 loss at Fort Smith, Ark. To Arkansas-Fort Smith on Apr. 28, 2017, LCU's last two conference losses have been via walk-off wins from the opposition.
1-for-19 | Newman had been 1-for-19 in two-out at-bats until Druin's solo home run in the fifth inning of Friday's first game. Ked Bailey followed with a single on the ensuing at-bat after Druin's homer. They completed the series 6-for-35 (.171) in two-out at-bats (LCU was 15-of-44, .341, in comparison).
4 | Newman produced four home runs Friday against the Chaps.  LCU entered Friday with a 21-2 advantage in home runs on the road against the opposition.
4 | Will Clark produced four stolen bases in the series and has 15 on the season.
6 | Keaton Greenwalt, Scotland Church and Will Clark each co-led LCU with six hits in the series.