Baseball | 03.05.2022
NO. 23 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (12-3, 10-3, LSC) at
NO. 17 ANGELO STATE (13-4, 13-4 LSC)
Friday, March 5– 4 p.m. (DH)
Foster Field – San Angelo Texas, Texas
LEADING OFF
In an important regional battle on the road, Lubbock Christian has a chance to get a series win over Angelo State on Saturday if they can sweep the doubleheader. The Chaps upset the Rams on Friday night, using a ninth inning rally to earn the win. In a battle between the No. 2 and 3 best hitting teams in the Lone Star Conference, the series opener did not disappoint, as each team reached double-digits in the hit column.
Eduardo Acosta led the way for LCU, going 4-5 at the plate out of the leadoff spot.
STARTING PITCHING MATCHUP
Game One
LCU – The Chaps will start right-hander
Shandon Herrera in game one of the doubleheader. The senior did not pitch last weekend against New Mexico Highlands, but he has started three times already this season. The Odessa, Texas, native has a 5.00 ERA in 18.0 innings of work. He has allowed 10 runs on 20 hits and six walks while striking out 14 batters. He is holding opponents to a .290 batting average this season. Herrera's best outing of the season came on the road at Oklahoma Christian, where he threw a complete game and allowed just one run on six hits with seven strikeouts in the outing.
ASU – Aaron Munson is a likely candidate to go to the mound in the second game of the series for the Rams. Munson has pitched five times already this season, with three of those in the starting role. He has 3-1 record and a 4.08 ERA in 17.2 innings of work. He has allowed 14 runs on 17 hits and five walks while striking out 13 batters. Last week against St. Mary's, Munson struck out five Rattler batters in six innings of work while allowing just four runs on six hits and walk.
Game Two
LCU – It'll be
Ty Stephenson on the mound for the Chaps in the nightcap of the doubleheader. Stephenson has started/appeared in three games so far this season, posting an 8.38 ERA in 9.2 innings of work. Only nine of the 15 runs he has allowed have been earned, but he has given up 16 hits and opponents are batting .340 against him. Stephenson has struck out 10 batters. The Ingram, Texas, native is still working back onto the mound after missing most of last season. In 2020, he was the ace of the Chaparral staff.
ASU – Jake Rogers is a possible option for the Rams as they head into the third game of the series. A right-handed Nevada native, Rogers is 5-0 on the mound this season, despite only working twice as a starter so far. Rogers has a 3.32 ERA in 19.0 innings of work. Opponents are hitting .268 against him and he has struck out 16 batters. His last outing was his best of the season, as he allowed just two runs in 6.2 innings of work against St. Mary's.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
.281 | Lubbock Christian pitchers gave up just three hits in 17 at-bats with runners in scoring position on Friday night, and they are limiting opponents to a .281 batting average in those situations this season
5 | The Chaps have played five road games so far this season and have won all five of them
.574 | LCU hit a pair of doubles, a triple and three home runs in Friday night's win, raising their slugging percentage, which already led the league, to .574
