LUBBOCK, Texas (Feb. 9. 2019) – Lubbock Christian University looked poised to cruise to a win in their home opener through the first seven innings of play Saturday afternoon, but coughed up the lead late, suffering their second loss on the young season.
 
Most of the Chaparral runs on the day came in the games' opening inning. Ricky Contreras started things off with a shutout inning in the top half of the inning, and his offense quickly gave him the lead in the bottom half. Chase Whetsel led things off with a walk and quickly advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Andres Negron. Whetsel then came around to score when catcher Andrew Pratt singeld to center field.
 
Pratt then moved all the way to third on a pair of wild pitches and came into score on a sacrifice fly from Hill Alexander. The RBI was Alexander's first as a Chap. It would also be the last time LCU converted an RBI opportunity in the game. They were 2-14 in RBI opportunities in the game.
 
The next six innings were relatively quiet offensively, as Contreras dominated the Aggies and LCU struggled at the plate. Contreras continued his dominant start to the season with seven innings of shutout ball. Contreras stuck out eight batters overall, including five straight at one point. He scattered four hits and did not allow a run, lowering his earned run average to just .60.
 
Lubbock Christian had another scoring opportunity in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with two outs, but was unable to convert. The Chaps got their final run of the game in the seventh after Pratt doubled and advanced to third on a single from Keaton Greenwalt. The two then advance a base each on a Cameron balk, giving LCU a 3-0 lead.
 
The bullpen took over in the eighth and the Aggies began their comeback effort with a pair of runs in the inning. The game was then tied up in the ninth on a single from Cameron's leading hitter, Izrael Trevino.
 
Greenwalt got in scoring position in the bottom of the ninth with a walk and his second stolen base of the day, but the Chaps were unable to get the clutch hit to win. Cameron busted the game open with six runs in the ninth, and although Lubbock Christian got one back in the ninth, the Aggies took the win.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
1.33 – With Contreras's seven shutout innings, the ERA of LCU starting pitchers was lowered to 1.33 on the season
4 – Keaton Greenwalt has hits in all four games this season
7 – Lubbock Christian walked seven batters in the final three innings of play
.174 – The Chaps are hitting .174 (8-46) with runners in scoring position through the first four games of the season
15 – In 15 chances, Ricky Contreras has not allowed a two-out hit through his first two starts
8.71 – LCU's bullpen has an earned run average of 8.71 this season