LUBBOCK, Texas (April 27, 2019) – Behind strong pitching and a patient offense, Lubbock Christian University run-ruled Rogers State 12-0 in the series finale, winning two games to one.
 
The Chaps (33-12, 14-4) now hold a two-game lead in the Heartland Conference standings over the Hillcats (28-15, 12-6) and can clinch the regular season title with one more win.
 
With the wind blowing out upwards of 15 miles per hour, it looked like it would be an offensive battle between the league's top two teams, especially when both loaded the bases in the first inning, but neither was able to get a run across.
 
For LCU starter Ricky Contreras, it was the only trouble he got into in his 4.0 innings on the mound. The senior allowed just one other hit on the day and walked another, but struck out four as well. His third K of the day was an important one, as it allowed him to reach 250 for his career. He did not give up a run, lowering his earned run average to .96 for the season.
 
Contreras was given a lead to work with in the bottom of the second inning as the Chaps broke the scoreless tie. Andres Negron led off the inning with a single and came around to score on a single from Chase Whetsel. Negron eventually came to bat again in the inning, as the Chaps batted around and added another four runs, taking a 5-0 lead.
 
Three straight batters reached again to start the bottom of the third inning, and two of them, Eddy Vasquez and Ryan Rijo, came into score when Braden Hayward doubled to right field. A ground out from Hill Alexander and a sacrifice fly from Keaton Greenwalt, pushing the LCU lead to 9-0.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Lubbock Christian pushed the lead to double digits with a pair of two-out runs. Hill Alexander started the offensive effort with a single and moved himself into scoring position with a steal of second. Keaton Greenwalt followed with a walk, and the pair scored on a double from Andrew Pratt. The 12^th and final run came in the sixth after a dropped fly ball, a double and a groundout from Hayward.
 
Closing out the game on the mound after Contreras left the game, LCU used pitchers Brennen Fowler, Nathan Dockery and Logan McCrummen. Fowler add one baserunner via the walk, but added in a pair of strikeouts, bringing his season total to three. Dockery did not record a strikeout but did not allow a baserunner either, and McCrummen finished out the win with a swinging strikeout.
 
NEXT UP
Lubbock Christian will close out the regular season next weekend, playing a three-game series on Friday and Saturday against St. Mary's. First pitch for game one is at 3 p.m.