Lubbock Christian University opened the season on a six-game win streak, but it would go no further, as following their 13-5 win, Adams State University split Friday’s doubleheader with an 8-4 win over the Chaparrals at Hays Field.

Lubbock Christian scored the first seven runs of the opener, scoring the runs over the first three innings. LCU scored in each inning of the game, beginning with a four-run first inning. Lance Nethercot opened the scoring with an RBI-double and then eventually scored on an error before Brent Stewart launched a two-run home run for his second home run of the season and complete the four-run inning. LCU’s first six runs were unearned and doubles by Stewart and Ryan Rogers in the two-run third inning put LCU up 7-0.

Chaps starting pitcher Christian Marquez allowed one hit through three innings and was cruising until an unsettling top of the fourth inning, as ASU scored two runs off four hits. Marquez was able to get out of the jam and force the Grizzlies to leave the bases loaded.

Leading 7-2, LCU would respond from the two-run Grizzlies fourth with a Brandon Rix RBI sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the fourth inning and a three-run fifth inning to take an 11-2 lead. Josh Narvaiz tripled and Jaime Bustamante produced a double to highlight the three-run fifth inning.

Ryne Niemi produced a two-run triple in a three-run ASU sixth inning, but again LCU responded. Rogers doubled in the bottom of the sixth inning and Narvaiz followed with the team’s eighth double of the game and LCU was able to push the lead to 13-5, with a two-run sixth closing the game’s scoring.

LCU produced 10 extra-base hits, with eight doubles produced. Bustamante, Rogers and Stewart each hit two doubles. Stewart had a homer to go along with his two doubles to complete a 3-for-4 performance at the plate. Rogers went 2-for-3, leading LCU with a trio of runs-batted-in. Niemi led ASU with three RBI off a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.

Marquez went six innings and allowed five runs (four earned) off six hits and struck out four batters to improve to 2-0 on the season.  Josh Keaton suffered his first loss of the season (1-1). He allowed seven runs (two earned) off four hits in three innings.

Each team scored in the first inning of the nightcap. A pair of walks and a pair of wild pitches by LCU starting pitcher Daniel Crooks gave ASU a 1-0 lead before the Chaps responded with a two-run bottom half of the first inning. Caleb Koedyker scored the runs with a two-run triple with two outs.

Four walks and an error by Crooks in the second inning allowed the Grizzlies to regain the lead 3-2, and they added to the lead in the fourth inning with Michael Downs scoring on a wild pitch. Rogers and Brandon Urquizo led off the bottom of the fourth inning with hits and Urquizo’s double set up a Narvaiz sacrifice fly.

ASU held the 4-3 lead and added to it with a three-run sixth inning. All three runs were unearned and Niemi produced a pair with a bases loaded single. ASU added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning. Bustamante recorded an RBI single in the ninth inning, but LCU was unable to get the tying run to the plate and ASU claimed the 8-4 win.

Crooks had tough go in his Hays Field debut for LCU. He allowed four runs off four hits in 3.2 innings with seven walks issued. He suffered the loss and fell to 1-1. Bailey Garcia received the start for the Grizzlies and allowed three runs off six hits in five innings. He received the win (2-0) and struck out nine batters. Dylan Sherry grabbed the save (2) pitching the final four innings. He allowed one run off five hits in four innings.

A LCU highlight from the second game was Koedyker matching a program single game record and becoming the 17th Chaps member to record two triples in a contest. The last Chap to complete the task was Brett Kauten, who hit two triples on Apr. 25, 2014 at home against Southern Nazarene. Koedyker also matched a Heartland Conference single game record (21st time by a Heartland Conference member all-time). He finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI.

LCU (6-1) wraps up their four-game series with Adams State (3-4) Saturday at noon at Hays Field.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

4 | Brent Stewart led LCU with four hits on the day and was 4-for-9 at the plate with two doubles and a home run.

5 | Reagan Lucia’s streak of consecutive games with a relief appearance ended at five games, as did his streak of consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run. He surrendered a run in the ninth inning of the second game, making his sixth appearance of the seaon.

9 | ASU had nine runs with two outs on the day, batting .428 as a team (12-for-28) with two outs. Four of their five runs in the opener were with two outs.

9-for-15 | LCU was 9-for-15 getting the lead-off batter aboard, getting the lead-off batter aboard five times (out of six) in the opener.

10 | LCU’s win streak against ASU ended at 10 games, as ASU’s win was their first over LCU since the 2014 season.

(Courtesy LCU Sports Information Department)