LUBBOCK, Texas (February 7, 2022) – The Lubbock Christian University baseball team wrapped up its season-opening series on Monday with another doubleheader split, this time winning the first game 12-5 before suffering a 17-6 loss in the second game. The split the series with Arkansas-Fort Smith two games apiece overall.
 
The weather was much better for Monday's games, with little wind and a clear sky, allowing for the Chaps' first two home runs of the season and a lot more offense than Sunday.
 
GAME ONE
Lubbock Christian took the lead in the series with a win in the first game of the doubleheader. They scored early and often in the game and got an excellent starting pitching performance out of Shandon Herrera to win the game.
 
Herrera sat down the Lions in order in the top of the first and by the time he came back out, he had a lead. The Chaps scored three runs in the frame, all with two outs. Luis Navarro got things going with a double and the bases were quickly loaded thanks to an error and a walk. Eduardo Acosta walked to push in one run and Edgar Hernandez singled to drive in two more and give LCU the early lead.
 
A single run was added in the fourth, and then the lead doubled in the bottom of the third. The Chaps didn't wait until they had two outs this time, getting a leadoff double from Gibson and another from Acosta for a run. Hernandez drove in another with a single, bringing Caden Hensley to the plate.
 
Still searching for his first hit of the season, Hensley took two pitches before swinging and lifting a ball into right center that continued to carry until it hit the trees on the other side of the wall for LCU's first home run this year.
 
Herrera ran into his only trouble on the day in the fourth, allowing a run on three hits and a walk, but Hensley made an incredible diving catch in foul territory to end the Lion threat.
 
The Chaps tacked on single runs in the fourth and fifth innings and added two more in the sixth to lead by as many as 11.
 
In the top of the seventh (the final inning), Herrara was lifted and LCU's relievers faced some trouble against UAFS, which batted around in the frame, but freshman Stoney Rhodes finally got a ground out to end the game.
 
GAME TWO
It looked as though things might go the exact same way for Lubbock Christian early in the second game. Ethan Coombes allowed a leadoff walk, but got a double play and faced just three batters in the top of the first, and in the bottom of the second the Chaps got two quick runs on a home run from George Mendazona.
 
The top of the first, however, would be the last time a Chap pitcher put a zero on the scoreboard.
 
UAFS put up four runs in the second to take the lead and added three more in the third, which was the final inning of work for Coombes. Then they scored another three in the fourth, pushing the lead all the way out to 10-2.
 
The Chaps chipped into the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, but Arkansas-Fort Smith came right back with four more in the top of the fifth. LCU's final two runs came in the bottom of the fifth.
 
The Lions tacked on three more runs to go up by 11 and the run rule went into effect after the final out of the seventh inning was recorded.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
.583 | Jarred Gibson leads the Chaps with a .583 batting average after the opening weekend, and with his three walks and one hit-by-pitch, he posted an on-base percentage of .688
690 | The two wins for LCU bring head coach Nathan Blackwood's career total to 690
.317 | LCU's offense had a strong start to the season overall, hitting .342 with a .469 on-base percentage in the first four games
 
NEXT UP
Lubbock Christian will be on the road next weekend, playing four games against Oklahoma Christian.