Lubbock Christian University Baseball Sweeps USAO; Face Wayland Baptist Monday Night

From Chris Due, lcuchaps.com

Mike Marshall had a pair of Lubbock Christian University’s four home runs on the day, and starting pitchers Lucas Whitmore and Tyler Curtis each had solid pitching performances to lead the No.19 Chaparrals to an 8-2 and 4-2 doubleheader sweep over University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma to also complete a sweep of the Sooner Athletic Conference series at Bill Smith Ballpark.

Whitmore started the opener for the Chaps and pitched a complete game without allowing any earned runs.  He gave up four hits in the game (all singles) and two came in the final inning.  The southpaw struck out six batters and retired 11 consecutive batters between the third and seventh inning.

USAO starting pitcher Caleb Martin held LCU without a run and to just two hits through the first four innings.  The game was scoreless until LCU’s Brent Leslie hit a single to right field in the fifth inning to score Chandler Griffin, who had reached on an error.  Ryan Meade scored an additional two runs with a two-out single to right field for a 3-0 advantage.  The Chaps added a pair of runs in the sixth inning, keyed by a RBI double from Griffin, and then extended the lead to 8-0 with a two-run home run to centerfield by Marshall and a single up the middle by Dominic Piazza to complete a three-run seventh inning.  USAO led off the bottom of the seventh inning reaching base on an error and it was followed with singles from Cody Bridgeman and Garin Qualls leading to their first run to break the shutout bid.  A passed ball led to another run before Whitmore closed the door with a pair of strikeouts to end the game.  Both USAO runs were unearned, as Whitmore improved to 6-2 on the season.

Meade (2-for-3) and Richard Bohlken (2-for-4) each had multi-hit performances in the contest for LCU.  The Chaps produced eight hits over the final three innings and finished with 10 in the game.

Curtis took the mound in the second game and received minor support early, as a lead-off single by Ryan Burnaman and a double from Meade led to a sacrifice fly by Karl Seiter for a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning.  LCU extended the lead to 2-0 in the third inning with a lead-off solo home run by Burnaman.  The Chaps had three home runs in the game and two came in the fourth inning with back-to-back solo homers from Marshall and Bohlken.  It marked the fifth time this season the Chaps have had back-to-back home runs.  USAO matched the two runs in the fourth inning with a pair of their own in the bottom half of the inning.  Brandon Jewett hit a lead-off home run and USAO loaded the bases resulting in a sacrifice fly by Jake Dunbar.  USAO had opportunities to cut into the deficit in the final three innings, but the Drovers went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position during the three-inning stretch.

Curtis surrendered five hits leading to a pair of runs.  He pitched six innings and Cameron Ray came in for the save with a scoreless seventh inning.  Curtis had six strikeouts in the game.  Burnaman and Nate Peterson each went 2-for-4 for multi-hit contests for LCU.

LCU has now won seven consecutive games and they have all been conference games.  The Chaps improve to 35-9 overall and 15-7 in the SAC, while USAO drops to 22-20 overall and 9-16 in conference.  The Chaps return home to host Wayland Baptist University Monday at 6:30 p.m. for the second installment of the three-game SAC series with the Pioneers.