SAN ANTONIO, Texas (April 7, 2018) - St. Mary's University defeated No.9 Lubbock Christian University 13-3 and 8-3 Saturday afternoon at Dickson Stadium to sweep a doubleheader and a four-game Heartland Conference series.  The four consecutive losses marks the first time LCU has been swept in a four-game conference series since falling in four straight at then-No.2 Oklahoma City University in April of 2013.
 
It was another long day at the ballpark for LCU Saturday, as not much went their way. StMU excelled in the doubleheader in getting the leadoff batter aboard base. They went 6-for-6 in the opening game getting the leadoff batter aboard and were 10-for-10 carrying over into the second game. They ended the doubleheader 11-for-14 (78.6%) reaching the leadoff batter aboard base, which led to 46 at-bats for the Rattlers with runners on base in the doubleheader.
 
The opening game of Saturday's doubleheader was plagued early by LCU errors. Two errors off StMU's first three balls put into play led to StMU taking a 2-0 lead. A third error by the Chaps, which came on the second batter of the second inning led to trouble. Chaps starting pitcher Callan Johnson was unable to get out of the jam, as he ended up walking two batters and then surrendered a grand slam home run to Angel Vega. The slam was part of a seven-run second inning and built the Rattlers lead to 9-0.
 
The scoring tone was just the opposite for the Chaps, as they were shut down by Rattlers starting pitcher and Lubbock native Branson Hall. He held the Chaps without a hit for the first 3.1 innings, as Andrew Pratt received LCU's first hit of the game. Pratt was quickly released on a ground ball double play, which was one of two hit in the game by LCU.  Five Chaps starters had one plate appearance in the game, as head coach Nathan Blackwood wnt to his bench.  It led to a three-run sixth inning, with hits from Eddie Vasquez, James Hardberger, Logan Nethercot and a misplayed line drive by Skyler Nelson helping the Chaps get their first multi-run inning of the series. LCU trailed 10-3, but StMU matched LCU's scoring with a three-run home-half of the inning sparked by a two-run double from Andrew Perez.
 
Johnson (5-2) suffered the loss, allowing nine runs (five earned) off five hits in 1.1 innings. Hall improved to 3-3 and struck out nine Chap batters in 6.2 innings of work. He allowed three runs (one earned) off four hits.
 
Vega led StMU in the opener with five RBI off a 3-for-3 performance at the plate. Donnie Perez also went 3-for-3 and finished with three RBI.
 
The second game started with the same tone as the opener. In the bottom of the first inning, leadoff batter James Davison was hit by a pitch, stole second base and then scored on an error off a sacrifice bunt. Nethercot doubled to set up the tying run in the top of the second inning, placing the score at 1-1. The leadoff success continued to hurt the Chaps, as StMU registered at least one run in each of the first five innings, building the lead to 7-1.
 
Chaps starting pitcher Daniel Crooks allowed six runs (four earned) on seven hits in 3.1 innings and suffered the loss (3-3). Chandler Casey replaced Crooks and finally settled down the StMU offense. LCU produced five hits in the seventh inning, including a double from Scotland Church, leading to a trio of runs and LCU cut the deficit to 7-4. LCU would close the game with their last seven batters retired.
 
Former Oklahoma and Auburn lefty Octavio Rodriguez started for StMU. He pitched 6.2 innings and allowed three runs off seven hits and struck out five batters to improve to 1-1 on the season. Casey was not part of the decision for LCU, but he went 4.2 innings and allowed two runs on seven hits.
 
Perez (3-for-5) completed a six-hit afternoon with another three-hit performance for StMU. Oscar Betancourt also had a three-hit game (3-for-3) for the Rattlers. Nethercot and Church went 2-for-4 and Pratt finished the second game 2-for-3 for LCU.
 
The losses placed LCU with a 3-5 record on their eight-game road trip and they are 7-5 in Heartland Conference play (22-12 overall). StMU improved to 24-10 overall, 8-4 in conference and 18-1 at home on the season. The Chaps return home Friday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader hosting Texas A&M International at Hays Field.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES WITH StMU
.345 | The Rattlers hit .345 in the series and had a staff ERA of 1.64, as they held held LCU's average to .162 in the series and scored at a mark to place LCU's ERA to 6.75 in the series.
.400 | Andrew Pratt led LCU hitting .400 in the series and was 4-for-10 with two doubles.
.571 | StMU was able to get the leadoff batter aboard at a rate of 57.1% (16-for-28) in the series.  LCU was 5-for-32 (.156) in the same category.
.706 | StMU's Donnie Perez had a .706 on-base percentage int eh series, benefited off six hits and six walks.
5.8 | LCU pitchers Saturday averaged facing 5.8 StMU batters per inning, as they combined for 81 batters in 14 innings.
7 | LCU had runs-batted-in by seven different individuals, but no Chap had more than one RBI in the series.
9 | LCU allowed nine unearned runs in the series (30 runs allowed, 21 earned).
10-1 | StMU had a 10-1 advantage in the series in at-bats with the bases loaded. They ended up with three bases loaded hits, including the Angel Vega grand slam in Saturday's opener.
10.54 | The Chaps starting pitching has been stellar this season, but they combined for a 10.54 ERA in the series against StMU.
11-0 | StMU produced a 11-0 advantage in sacrifices in the series, with seven sacrifice bunts and four sacrifice fly RBI.
16-16 | The all-time series was moved to 16-16 between the two programs.
88-23 | LCU had 88 at-bats in the series against left-handed pitching and 23 against righties.