Caleb Koedyker went 4-for-5 and matched a program single-game record with three doubles and No.9 Lubbock Christian University received six multi-hit performances to complete a three-game Heartland Conference series sweep with a 12-7 win over Rogers State University Saturday at Hays Field. The win allowed LCU to claim the Heartland Conference regular season title outright and they will serve as the top seed at the Heartland Conference Tournament beginning Thursday in Cleburne, Texas.   

Koedyker’s three doubles marked the first time this season and the 24th time in program history a Chap has hit three doubles in a game. Ethan Kohnle was the last Chaps player to complete the task, doing so on Apr. 31, 2015 against Eastern New Mexico.

All four of Koedyker’s hits resulted in an RBI and all were extra-base hits leading to a Chaps single-game season high 10 total bases. He also matched a single-season high with five RBI, completing the task for a second time this season.

His first double came in the first inning and it gave LCU a 3-2 lead, as LCU had to come back from a 2-0 deficit heading into the home half of the first inning. RSU tied the game at 3-3 in the third inning after Chris Miguel’s double led to a Ismael Orozco RBI. LCU responded in the bottom of the third inning sending nine batters to the plate in a massive two-out rally. The first two Chaps batters were retired and then Koedyker hit a two-out solo home run for his team leading seventh home run of the season. He was the first of six consecutive batters to reach base safely. Josh Narviaz hit a two-run double during the four run inning to extend LCU’s lead to 7-3. LCU hit three doubles in the fourth inning, and Koedyker and Brent Stewart’s doubles were for an RBI each to build the lead to 9-3. Ryan Rogers singled in a run in the fifth inning and Koedyker plated a pair with a double in the seventh inning to lead 12-3. The game’s final runs came in the ninth inning, as Orozco belted a grand slam for RSU.

Stewart (3-for-5), Brandon Rix (3-for-3) and Rogers (3-for-4) each had three-hit performances in the 19-hit team performance at the plate. Rogers and Narvaiz each had a pair of runs-batted-in for LCU. Orozco finished with six RBI and Chris Miguel was 3-for-4 for RSU.

Russell Reber received the win (9-1), as he went five innings and allowed three runs off five hits. Brent Bezio pitched three scoreless innings in relief. Landon Nealon was one of six RSU pitchers and he went three innings in the start and allowed seven runs off 10 hits. He suffered his first loss of the season (5-1) for the Hillcats, who saw their season end with a 31-19 overall mark (11-13 in conference).

The Chaps complete the regular season 36-12 and finished with the best conference record (19-5). LCU, claiming their first Heartland Conference regular season title, heads to the conference tournament in Cleburne, Texas as the No.1 seed and will open play Thursday at 1 p.m. against St. Edward’s University.

 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

0.67 | Brent Bezio allowed two earned runs in nine home appearances leading to a 0.67 ERA at home for Bezio.

.475 | LCU hit .475 in the series against RSU. They were led by Brent Stewart, who went 7-for-10 in the series with four doubles and four RBI.

5 | LCU plunked five batters Saturday, marking their highest total of the season and the most since hitting OC six times on Apr. 30, 2016.

7 | RSU’s Chris Miguel was 7-for-9 at the plate in the series (.778). That accounted for 37% of RSU’s 19 hits in the series.

12 | Twelve seniors were recognized as part of Senior Day prior to the game. Every starting member on the field (every position other than the designated hitter) Saturday was a senior.

15 of 20 | LCU scored runs in 15 of the 20 innings of at-bats in the series.

17 | LCU had 17 two-out base hits in the series, with Caleb Koedyker going 4-for-6 in the series in two-out at-bats leading to five two-out RBI for Koedyker. The team had 11 two-out RBI (seven Saturday).

18-3 | LCU had an 18-3 advantage in the series in extra-base hits with 16 doubles in the mix.

18-4 | LCU completed the regular season 18-4 at home, where they hit .380 as a team.

(Courtesy LCU Sports Information Department)