FORT SMITH, Ark. - After dropping game one today 11-4, the Chaps rolled to an 11-0 win in game two of the day against UAFS to complete the series victory over the Lions on Friday, Feb. 24.

GAME ONE – Arkansas Fort Smith 11, Lubbock Christian 4 – Seven Innings
Nine runs in the first two innings by the Lions helped power UAFS to their first win of the weekend over the Chaps on Friday, Feb. 24.

With two runners on in the bottom of the first inning, Michael Brinton singled to bring home Noah Davis and give Arkansas Fort Smith (6-7, 4-7 LSC) a 1-0 lead. Two more singles from Nico Patrick and Blayse Quarnstrom brought in two more runs, and the Lions took a 3-0 advantage.

The Chaps (9-6, 9-6 LSC) got on the board in the top of the second, thanks to Ryan Ball reaching on a fielder's choice that scored Nate Van Maanen. Jake Sherrard tallied his first career hit in his first career at-bat later in the frame, but LCU could not add any more runs, but cut the UAFS lead to 3-1.

The Lions opened up the floodgates in the bottom of the second inning, beginning with an error by the Chaparrals that allowed another run to score and increase the Pride's lead to 4-1. Like in the first inning, back-to-back singles from Patrick and Quarnstrom allowed two runs to score, and the UAFS lead grew to 6-1. Another throwing error from LCU allowed two more UAFS runners to score, and a sac fly from Kade Brewer scored one more Lion runner, and Arkansas Fort Smith jumped out to a 9-1 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Matt Schilling brought home Davis and swelled the Lion bulge to 10-1. The Chaps got something going in the top of the sixth, as a Jarred Gibson groundout allowed Eduardo Acosta to score, before an error by the Lions scored Van Maanen and Chris Shull, cutting the UAFS lead to 10-4.

Brandon Ulmer added some cushion between the Lions and Chaparrals in the bottom of the sixth, as his RBI single brought home Sammy Seeger to put UAFS on top 11-4. Despite Brevin McCool reaching on a fielder's choice and getting into scoring position on a wild pitch, a strikeout ended the game and the Chaps fell 11-4 to the Lions in seven innings.

Davis led the Lions on offense, going 3-for-3 with three runs scored. Patrick went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run. Van Maanen drew two walks and scored twice for LCU.

Grant Shankle (2-1) earned the win, pitching all seven innings, allowing four runs, two of those being earned, off six hits, striking out three and walking three other batters.

Andrew Duran (2-1) was handed his first loss of the season, going 5.2 innings, allowing 10 runs, with five of those being earned, off 10 hits, walking two and striking out eight.

GAME TWO - Lubbock Christian 11, Arkansas Fort Smith 0 
Another high-quality outing from Ryan Markwardt and a second save in two days from Tyler Manyo helped the Chaps roll over Arkansas Fort Smith 11-0 on Friday, Feb. 24.

The scoring started early for the Chaps, as an error by the Lions scored Carson Ogilvie to give LCU a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first. Nate Van Maanen added two more to the tally, as a two-RBI single scored Eduardo Acosta and Brevin McCool to push the lead to 3-0. Van Maanen came home himself later in the frame, as a Ryan Ball sac fly made it a 4-0 lead in favor of the Chaps. 

LCU brought another run across in the top of the third, as a groundout from Jarred Gibson scored Van Maanen, putting the Chaps ahead 5-0. Another sac fly from Ball scored Acosta in the top of the fifth, and the Chaparral lead increased to 6-0. 

Both teams stayed quiet for the next few innings, until Lubbock Christian clamped down on offense in the top of the ninth, as an RBI single from Ball scored Acosta again to make it 7-0. An RBI double from Gibson scored a pair for the Chaparrals, and a sac fly from Hogeboom put LCU in double digits, scoring Ball to swell the bulge to 10-0. Gibson came home himself on a wild pitch, and Lubbock Christian went on top 11-0. The Lions went down in order in the bottom of the ninth, and the Chaps completed the shutout win, knocking off the Lions 11-0.

It is LCU's second shutout of the weekend, as they opened the four-game set with a 3-0 win over the Lions in seven innings on Thursday. 

Ball led the Chaps on offense, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and three RBI. Van Maanen went 1-for-1, drawing four walks, with three runs and two RBI. 

Markwardt (3-0) earned the win, going 6.0 innings, giving up just two hits, no runs, walking two and striking out twelve batters. Manyo (3) earned his second save of the weekend, going three innings, giving up just one hit, walking one batter and striking out three. 

Trevor Johnson (0-1) was handed the loss, going three innings, giving up five runs, two of those being earned, off four hits, walking two and striking out a pair. 

The Chaps will have almost a week off, returning home to Hays Field on Friday, Mar. 3, for a four-game series against Oklahoma Christian. First pitch is set for 5:00 PM for game one. Fans can purchase tickets at lcuchaps.com.