LUBBOCK, Texas (March 29, 2019) – Lubbock Christian University pounded out 45 total hits and 13 home runs in just 14 innings, outscoring Newman 43-5 in a pair of wins on Friday afternoon.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
28 | LCU's 28 hits in the second game of the day were the second most in a single game in program history and the most since March 23, 1986 when the Chaparrals had 29
3 | Andrew Pratt had three home runs in the first game, tying for the second most by an individual in a single game in program history. Pratt also had a homer in the nightcap, giving him a league-leading 11 on the year
2009 | The last time LCU scored 28 runs in a game was May 12, 2009 against William Jewel College in the NAIA Tournament
.553 | Chaps had 21 hits in 38 at-bats with runners in scoring position during the two games
44 | LCU's 44 team home runs this season lead the Heartland Conference with the next closest team, Texas A&M-International, a distant 21 homers behind them
.800 | Chase Whetsel hit Lubbock Christian's first grand slam of the season in game two of the doubleheader as the Chaps hit .800 with the bases loaded against the Jets
90 | Chap batters collected 90 total bases on the day to just 15 for Newman
 
GAME ONE
The day started well enough for Newman, as they scratched across an unearned run to open the scoring against Ryan Johnson in the first inning of game one. Lubbock Christian got the run back with back-to-back doubles to lead off the bottom half of the inning and took the lead on a single from Hill Alexander. Newman scored twice more in the second, but the Chaps responded and got back on top with another pair of runs in the second.
 
In the third, LCU added to its lead with another run in the third as Andrew Pratt hit his first home run of the day – a solo shot. The senior, playing the role of designated hitter in the game, had another in the fourth, this time for three runs, and then capped the day off with another solo home run in the sixth.
 
Braden Hayward also hit a home run during the game, driving in himself and Keaton Greenwalt in the fifth inning, and Will Clark smashed a two-run homer in the sixth that scored he and Andres Negron. Greenwalt and Hayward were on base the most often during the first game of the day, each going 4-5. Hayward and Pratt both drove in five runs.
 
On the mound, Ryan got the start and pitched his league-leading fifth complete game of the season. The senior did allow more than two earned runs for the first time all season, but moved to 8-0 anyways.
 
GAME TWO
The offensive momentum carried into game, as Hayward once again doubled in Greenwalt in the first inning to get the scoring going. Another two runs came across in the opening frame, and the Chaps broke the game open in the second. Eddy Vasquez walked to open the second, and one out later the game two home run barrage began. Hayward began it, smashing a two-run blast to left center. Hill Alexander followed with a home run of his own, and Pratt homered yet again for back-to-back-to-back blasts.
 
Greenwalt and Negron added home runs of their own in the third inning, and the blasts, along with an RBI single from Ryan Rijo pushed the lead to double-digits. LCU's lowest-scoring inning of the game was the fourth, as the only run came across by way of an Alexander sacrifice fly.
 
In the fifth, however, three straight singles started the inning and brought Chase Whetsel to the plate. Whetsel, who had not hit a ball out of the park since March 2, blasted a ball over the right field wall for LCU's first grand slam of the season It was the final home run of the day for the Chaps, who hit a season-high seven in the game.
 
In all, 12 runs came across in the fifth inning, and they added two more in the seventh for the total of 28.
 
Ricky Contreras started the game, making his first appearance on the mound since Feb. 9. The senior hurler earned the win and did not allow an earned run over 4.0 innings, lowering his season ERA to .47. Kameron Deterding and Brennen Fowler also pitched scoreless frames in the game.
 
NEXT UP
Lubbock Christian will close out the three-game set against Newman on Saturday, facing the Jets in a single game at 1 p.m. at Hays Field.