FORT SMITH, Ark. (March 23, 2019) – Lubbock Christian completed its first sweep of the season on Saturday, defeating Arkansas-Fort Smith 3-1 behind Chandler Casey's best outing of the season.
 
The senior hurler is the third Chap in the last week to throw a one-hitter, matching his career high in innings pitched with nine and setting a new high in strikeouts with 11. It was his first complete game since 4/14/18 when he threw nine innings against Texas A&M-International.
 
Neither team was able to muster up a hit in the first inning, but Braden Hayward stroked a single in the top of the second for the Chaps. It was his first of two on the day, tying him for the team lead this season with 11 multi-hit games. Hayward also now leads the team in batting average at .371, while reaching base at a .416 clip overall.
 
Hayward did not come around to score in the second, and neither team was able to get a run across until the sixth inning. LCU came close to taking a lead in the third after Keaton Greenwalt reached via a walk and Hill Alexander was hit by a pitch. Andrew Pratt then seemed to crush his eighth home run of the year, but the blast was called foul and the Lions were able to get out of the inning.
 
LCU finally broke through in the top of the sixth inning as Pratt reached with a one-out walk and moved into scoring position on a single from Hayward. Will Clark then drove in the game's first run on a single to left field. One out later, Ryan Rijo hit a single of his own and drove in Hayward to give the Chaps a 2-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the eight, UAFS struck with its only hit and run of the game. Casey started out the inning strong with a swinging strikeout and a groundout before giving up a walk. A pinch hitter then came to the plate and tripled to score a run before the inning ended with another strikeout.
 
Rijo singled in the top of the ninth and allowed the Chaps to score an insurance run when Eddy Vasquez singled up the middle to drive in a run. Casey then closed out the win with three straight outs in the ninth.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
7 | Lubbock Christian has won seven straight games against Arkansas-Fort Smith dating back to last season. The last time LCU lost to UAFS was in a 14-inning matchup at the Heartland Conference Tournament on May 12, 2017.
3.31 | The Chaps once again lowered their staff ERA down to 3.31, and they are still the only Heartland Conference team with a sub-4.00 ERA
6 | Six of LCU's nine starters are batting better than .300 this year
0 | No Chaps recorded extra-base hits in the game, marking the first time since a 3/5 loss against West Texas A&M that LCU had only singles
19 | LCU is tied for the most overall wins in the Heartland Conference with St. Mary's, as each team has 19

NEXT UP
Lubbock Christian will return home for its next four games, taking on New Mexico Highlands in a midweek game at 6:30 p.m. at Hays Field on Tuesday.