EDMOND, Oklahoma (February 1, 2019) – Nine innings weren't enough, even on Opening Day, as Lubbock Christian went 10 frames Friday night before a double from Andres Negron scored Chase Whetsel and the Chaps walked off with a 1-0 record.
 
The back-to-back 10^th inning doubles from Whetsel and Negron were the only two extra-base hits of the night for the Chaparrals who struggled at the plate, only recording six hits on the night overall.
 
Keaton Greenwalt was the first LCU baserunner night, reaching via a walk with one out in the second inning. First basemen James Hardberger followed with a single to break up the Emporia no-hitter and move Greenwalt into scoring position, but he was stranded there.
 
Hardberger and Whetsel were the only two Chaps to record multiple hits in the season opener, while Greenwalt and Negron reached base twice with a hit and a walk apiece.
 
In the third inning, Lubbock Christian again put a runner on to start the inning, as Eddy Vasquez was hit by a pitch, but he was quickly erased on a double play. The Chaps would bat all the way around again before having another batter reach base in the sixth inning.
 
By that time, the LCU was down a run, with Emporia having broken the 0-0 tie in the top of the inning. The Hornets' only run of the game came from their leadoff batter, Tanner Arst, homered in the top of the fifth inning.
 
The run was the only one giving up by the Chaparrals through all 10 innings, as they used just Ricky Contreras and Chandler Casey to cover the whole game.
 
Contreras, a three-year starter for LCU, started of his 2019 campaign strong, pitching eight innings, giving up just the one run on five hits. He struck out four batters and only walking one.
 
Preseason All-Heartland reliever Chandler Casey then came in for the ninth and 10^th inning and picked up right where he left off in 2018. Casey faced just six batters in the two innings and struck out five of them, inducing a groundout from the other. He also earned the first pitching staff win of the season after his two scoreless frames.
 
Vasquez reached base again to start the sixth inning and the Chap rally. After an error by the Emporia second basemen put him on, Whetsel singled through the right side of the infield and another error allowed Vasquez to come around and tie the game.
 
The Chaps put runners in scoring position in the seventh and eighth innings, but were unable to bring anyone to the plate, sending the game to extras, where Negron's double finally ended the game.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
10 – Lubbock Christian had 10 at-bats with runners in scoring position in the game and only got one hit (.100)
5 – Chandler Casey struck out five of the six batters he faced in the game
1 – The Chaps are 1-0 to start the season for the first time since 2017, when they also earned a walkoff win to begin the year