LAREDO, Texas (March 9, 2018) – No.8 Lubbock Christian University connected on eight home runs Friday, with Ryan Rogers combining for three home runs in LCU's 14-2 and 10-2 doubleheader sweep over Texas A&M International at Jorge Haynes Field.
 
For a third consecutive game, LCU opened the doubleheader with a five-home run game. The three consecutive games with at least five home runs marks a first for the Chaparalls with 15^th-year head coach Nathan Blackwood.
 
The deep threats began early for the Chaps, who opened the first game with a 10-0 lead. Ryan Rogers blasted a pitch onto the TAMIU softball field beyond left field in the first inning for a three-run shot. Andrew Pratt followed in the second inning with a two-run home run to highlight a three-run inning. They added three more runs in the third inning with Rogers hitting a two-run shot for his second home run of the game. Matthew Rosales homered for TAMIU in the third inning, but LCU matched the run and more with an Andres Negron home run in the fourth inning followed by a two-run home run in a three-run fifth inning by Keaton Greenwalt.
 
LCU was able to get the leadoff batter aboard in five of the seven innings. They pounded 16 hits, with five players producing multi-hit games. Rogers went 4-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI. Lefty Ryan Johnson improved to 3-0 on the hill for LCU, allowing two runs off seven hits in 5.2 innings. He struck out six batters. Hugo Mendiola suffered his first loss (2-1), allowing 10 runs off 10 hits in 2.2 innings.
 
The tone of the second game was not much different. The streak of consecutive games with at least five home runs ended, but the Chaps still produced three long balls. Scotland Church went yard for a three-run home run to open the scoring in the second inning.  Rogers hit his seventh home run of the season and third of the afternoon in the fifth inning to place the LCU lead at 5-0. Doubles by Pratt and Church led to a 7-0 lead in the eighth inning. Up 7-2 in the ninth inning, LCU added insurance with a three-run homer by Pratt.
 
Pratt finished the game 4-for-5 with three RBI. Church led LCU with four RBI off a 2-for-4 performance at the plate. Will Clark went 3-for-4 for LCU. Callan Johnson improved to 3-0 on the mound, striking out seven in six innings of work. He pitched six scoreless innings and allowed four hits. Nathan Dockery pitched the final three innings for a three-inning save for LCU. Eric Cleveland took the loss (1-1) allowing five runs off seven hits in six innings.
 
LCU improves to 12-4 with their 11^th consecutive win and they are 5-0 on the road. TAMIU falls to 7-8. The two programs complete a four game series with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at noon.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
.563 | LCU was 9-for-16 (.563) on getting the leadoff batter aboard Friday.
.600 | Abel Aguilar led TAMIU Friday with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate with three of TAMIU's four RBI.
.714 | Ryan Rogers is 5-of-7 (.714) at the plate in the series for LCU with three home runs and six RBI.
2 | LCU scored 24 runs Friday, but only two came with two outs.
8 | The Chaps hammered eight home runs Friday, placing their season total at 29. They produced a total of 22 last season.
10 | While the home runs are stealing the spotlight, the Chaps also produced 10 doubles Friday (from seven different individuals).