AUSTIN, Texas (March 9, 2019) – Lubbock Christian lost the first game of Saturday's doubleheader 6-3 but was able to bounce back and win the second game 10-4 and will now have a chance to win a road series on Sunday in the series finale.
 
Game One
St. Edward's got on the board first in the opening game of the day with three runs in the bottom half of the first inning. The first two came after a single from Jake Hahn, and Jacob Vasquez came in to score next on a sacrifice fly that included a close play at the plate. Starting pitcher Callan Johnson then got out of the innings with a groundout to first base.
 
In the bottom of the third, the Chaps got a run back on a sacrifice fly of their own, and they cut the deficit to just one run when James Hardberger singled to score Andres Negron, who had reached base via his second triple of the year.
 
SEU added back to the lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth, but gave it right back to the Chaps in the fifth inning, when Braden Hayward scored on an error by the pitcher. Both the fifth and sixth innings saw the Hilltoppers score single runs, building their lead back to 6-3 going into the final inning of play.
 
In the seventh, the Chaps attempted to rally one last time, putting Hill Alexander and Andrew Pratt on base with a pair of one-out walks, but a double play ball killed the rally and gave SEU their first win of the series.
 
Game Two
If there was any momentum to be had from winning the first game of the day, the Chaps shut it down quickly, taking an early 1-0 lead on a solo home run from Hill Alexander. LCU broke the game open in the second inning, scoring eight runs, one of which was unearned, and three of which came when Alexander blasted his second home run of the game.
 
Alexander is now tied for second on the team with five home runs, two of which have been of the three-run variety. He is slugging a team-leading .740, has driven in 20 runs and leads the Heartland Conference with his 54 total bases.
 
Casey made his first start of the year and pitched brilliantly, allowing just three runs in a season-high 7.0 innings and saving the bullpen for Sunday's matchup. He only allowed six hits on the day and struck out three batters on 95 pitches while earning his third win of the season.
 
The Chaps added another run in the third inning as Negron singled and then scored on a double from Eddy Vasquez. Nine runs was the widest the gap would get, however, as SEU got their only three runs of the game in the bottom of the fourth.
 
Only one run would be scored by either team in the final three innings, as James Hardberger homered to left center field. It was the Lubbock native's fourth home run of the season, but his first to come when he wasn't leading off an inning. All of his four-baggers have still been with the bases empty.
 
Casey only faced trouble in one more inning, loading the bases up with two outs in the fifth on a hit-by-pitch, a single and a walk, but the worry was erased when the next batter flied out to right field. The right-hander cruised through the final two innings of the shortened doubleheader without allowing another baserunner.
 
The win gave LCU a series split and the chance to win a road series against the Hilltoppers for the first time since 2016 when they won two out of three games.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
.900 – In 10 opportunities with a runner on third and less than two outs this series, LCU has driven the runner nine times
5 – Hill Alexander reached base five times on the day with three hits and a pair of walks, raising his on-base percentage to .448
18 – SEU has 18 hits with runners in scoring position in just 43 at-bats, hitting .419 in those situations
28 – The Chaps hit three more home runs in the doubleheader and now leads the Heartland Conference by 10 in that category with 28
.310 – Lubbock Christian is currently the only Heartland conference team with a team batting average over the .300 mark