SAN ANTONIO, Texas (March 1, 2019) – Lubbock Christian University pounded out five home runs in 16 inning of play on Friday, sweeping a doubleheader at St. Mary's with a 4-2 win in game one and a 10-3 win in game two.
 
The Chaps had to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the first game, sealing the victory with a Pratt home run in the seventh. The seventh was important in game two as well, as LCU broke the game open with four runs en route to hold onto the victory.
 
GAME ONE
 
With Ryan Johnson on the mound in game one, the Rattlers took a first-inning lead. After a leadoff walk and a stolen base, a single brought the first run across. A wild pitch advanced the baserunner the second runner to third, and he scored on a groundout.
 
Johnson settled down after the opening inning and pitched the next six without giving up a run. It was just the second time in five starts this year that he has allowed multiple earned runs and the first time since opening weekend, when he also allowed two earned runs against Missouri Southern State. He struck out a season low three batters, but earned his fourth win of the season after scattering five hits.
 
LCU's offense got the first run back in the fifth inning, as Andres Negron led off with a double and quickly advanced another 90 feet on a wild pitch. Drew Austin followed with a walk before Eddy Vasquez hit a sacrifice fly to score Negron.
 
The leadoff batter reached base again in the top of the sixth, this time as Hill Alexander worked six-pitch walk. LCU's next two batters struck out before an error by the catcher advanced Alexander all the way to third. Keaton Greenwalt followed with a walk, bringing Negron back up, allowing him to single up the middle to score Alexander and tie the game.
 
LCU finally took the lead in the seventh and final inning of the shortened, doubleheader game. Hill Alexander once again started the rally with another walk. Andrew Pratt came up next and on the first pitch of the at-bat, homered to left field.
 
Johnson came back out and closed down the seventh inning with a pair of ground balls and a strikeout.
 
GAME TWO
 
After using seven innings to take the lead in the first game of the doubleheader, it only took two pitches for them to get the lead in the nightcap. Chase Whetsel led off the game, and after taking one pitch for a ball, homered to right field.
 
LCU then loaded the bases with back-to-back singles and another walk from Pratt, and Braden Hayward came around to score when Ryan Rijo hit into a double play, giving the Chaps an early 2-0 lead.
 
Lubbock Christian doubled their score in the third inning, as Pratt homered for the second time on the day. Another two singles put Rijo in scoring position, and Negron doubled to bring him home and put the Chaps up 4-0.
 
Callan Johnson was the starting pitcher that the Chaps staked to an early lead, and he took advantage. Callan gave up three runs during his six innings on the mound (only two of which were earned), allowing the Rattlers to pull within one, but struck out six batters on the way to his third win of the year.
 
Johnson kept LCU on top in the fifth and sixth innings, and the Chaps officially took control of the game in the seventh. On the first pitch of the inning, Hayward homered for the third time this season. Alexander then worked a walk, eventually coming into score on a wild pitch. Pratt also walked and came into score when Keaton Greenwalt singled. All-in-all, LCU scored five runs in the inning, pushing the lead out to 8-3.
 
Pratt capped off his strong day at the plate in the eighth, after Alexander once again reached base and Pratt homered for the ninth and tenth runs of the game.
 
Logan McCrummen relieved Callan Johnson for the seventh and eighth innings, allowing just one hit and striking out a batter on 28 pitches. Freshman Cody Lancaster then came in to close out the game in the ninth, using only eight pitches to strike out one batter and secure the win.
 
Lubbock Christian will finish out the series with St. Mary's with one game on Saturday, playing at 1 p.m. at Dickson Stadium.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
15 – With three home runs on the day, Andrew Pratt drove in four runs and took over the team lead with 15 RBI
17 – LCU recorded 17 hits as a team in the second game of the doubleheader, which was their second most in a single game this season
6 – Two thirds of LCU's starting lineup (six batters) are all hitting above the .300 mark this season
.438 – Hill Alexander had four walks in the two games combined, raising his on-base percentage to .438, which ranks second best on the team behind Pratt's .500 mark