LAS VEGAS, New Mexico (April 9, 2019) – Lubbock Christian finished of a season sweep of a New Mexico Highlands with a 16-6 run-rule win on Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Chaps (26-9) also beat the Cowboys (12-22) in Lubbock earlier this season, and with a series split against MSU-Denver earlier in the year, finish the 2019 regular season 3-1 against Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opponents.
 
LCU started the game about as well as it possibly could have, as Chase Whetsel singled and Braden Hayward reached on an error, bringing Hill Alexander to the plate. Alexander drove in both base runners and himself with his fourth home run in as many games. The Chaps continued to pour on the runs in the second inning, as LCU loaded the bases with one out. Braden Hayward then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Ryan Rijo from third and bringing Alexander to the plate again. The outfielder stroked a single to center field, scoring another two runs and giving him five RBI in the first two innings. Alexander drove in a sixth run in the top of the fifth inning as well.
 
The Cowboys got on the board and cut into what had become a nine-run deficit in the bottom of the second inning, as Justin DeHoog hit a solo homer and Garrett Hammer had an RBI single off LCU starter Callan Johnson. Johnson gave up one more run during his time on the mound on a solo home run to Gaylan Young in the fourth. He pitched well, however, striking out five in six innings – his longest outing since March 1.
 
Alexander's first inning home run had tied him for the team and conference lead with 11, but catcher Andrew Pratt took it right back in the top of the fifth. Alexander had already singled in a run in the inning, and Pratt came to the plate with runners at the corners. He worked the count full before blasting another home run, putting the Chaps up 13-3.
 
Hayward got in on the home run party in the sixth inning after Ryan Rijo hit a one out double and Chase Whetsel worked another walk. Hayward hit his three-run shot the opposite way, getting it over the wall in right center field that was 390 feet away.
 
LCU did not score in the seventh, just their second inning of the game with no runs, and Shandon Herrera came in to close out the win in the seventh.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
6 | Hill Alexander drove in six runs in the game, marking the first time a Chap hitter has done that this season
53 | Lubbock Christian now has 53 home runs as a team this season, which is tied for the third most in all of Division II baseball
.470 | LCU was 8-17 with runners in scoring position for a .470 batting average
180 | Chap fielders have now recorded 180 straight outs without making an error, dating back to the 3/26 game at home against NMHU
5-7 | LCU leadoff batters reached base in five of the seven innings
 
NEXT UP
The Chaps will return home for a three-game Heartland Conference series against St. Edward's. LCU at SEU will play a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. on Thursday followed by a single game on Friday, all at Hays Field.