LUBBOCK, Texas (March 14, 2019) – Behind another strong seven innings from starting pitcher Ryan Johnson, Lubbock Christian University won the series opener against Texas A&M-International 10-4 on Thursday night.
 
The Chaps (14-7) racked up 17 hits in the game, tying their second most in a single game, while limiting the Dustdevils (8-15) to just nine and handed starter Ruben Solis his fifth loss of the year.
 
The lead came quickly for LCU, as Johnson saw only four batters in the top of the first and LCU's leadoff batter, Chase Whetsel scored before an out was recorded. Whetsel doubled to start the game, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout from Braden Hayward. The productive out was the only one Hayward made on the day, adding three hits and a walk to raise his on-base percentage to .420.
 
Eddy Vasquez drove in a pair of runs in the second with a single to left field, scoring Keaton Greenwalt and Andres Negron, before TAMIU broke onto the scoreboard with two runs in the top of the fifth. The runs were the only two Johnson gave up on the day, but they were both unearned, allowing the Manitoba native to lower his already miniscule ERA to 1.31. He also added another seven strikeouts to his total, which ranked 11^th in the nation coming into the game.
 
The Chaps got the two runs back and some in the bottom of the fifth, as Hayward and Hill Alexander hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. The both came into score when Andrew Pratt reached on an error, and Pratt then came around on a Keaton Greenwalt triple. Will Clark, getting his second straight start at designated hitter, drove in Greenwalt, before the Dustdevils could finally stop the bleeding.
 
In the sixth and seventh LCU added insurance runs, as Alexander doubled home Hayward in the sixth and Hayward continued his strong day by doubling in Vasquez and James Hardberger in the seventh.
 
The seventh was also Johnson's last inning on the mound during the game, closing the book after he scattered four hits and walked just one in his sixth straight win. Koi Carrillo and Colin Frondorf finished out the game, pitching the seventh and eighth, respectively. They each allowed a single run, securing the victory for the Chaps.
 
NEXT UP
The Chaps will play three more games against the Dustdevils this weekend, starting with a Friday doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. Chandler Casey and Nathan Dockery are the probable starters for Lubbock Christian.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
10 – LCU left 10 runners on base during the series opener, marking the second straight game they hit double-digits in that category
7.04 – The Dustdevil staff ERA went up again on Thursday, breaking the seven run mark for the season
3 – The Chaps have won all three games played while wearing the pinstriped jerseys in 2019
42.0 – Ryan Johnson has pitched exactly 7.0 innings in six straight starts, winning each of those games for a 6-0 record. The only game he did not go 7.0 innings was his first outing of the year, in which he received a no-decision
11 – Hill Alexander had his 11^th multi-hit game of the season, which leads the team