The pitching staff No.7 Lubbock Christian University shutout Newman twice and Brent Stewart combined to go 5-of-7 from the plate with 10 total bases, as LCU swept the Jets 6-0 and 2-0 in a Friday Heartland Conference doubleheader at Hays Field.

The Chaps have now shutout their opponent in four of their last five games and in three straight contests. It marks the first time LCU has shutout their opponent in three straight games since Feb. 19-20 of the 2010 season (all three were at home against Texas-Brownsville). LCU has not allowed a run in 25 consecutive innings, and the pair of goose eggs gives LCU seven shutouts on the season.

Ricky Contreras set the tone with a complete-game two-hit shutout in the opener. Contreras has not allowed a run in 14 innings and has allowed seven hits in the span. Friday, Contreras did not allow a hit to the final 15 batters he faced. He had a first-pitch-strike to nine of the first 11 batters he faced and did not have a third-ball in a count against a batter until the 13th batter he faced in the game. Of the 12 outs recorded of balls put into play, Contreras was able to force 11 ground outs. A key element with the wind blowing out in the opening game (wind blew in after a cold front moved in between games). Contreras also struck out nine batters and improved to 8-0 with his fifth complete game and second complete game shutout (both in consecutive starts).

Offensively in the opener, it was two-out executing completing the task, as LCU had 10 of their 15 hits with two outs. Josh Narvaiz opened the scoring in the second inning with an RBI-double, and two batters later, Stewart capitalized with a two-out single to score Narvaiz for a 2-0 lead. They added to the lead with a two-run home run by Brent Stewart to straightaway centerfield for his fourth homer of the season and the 10th of his LCU career (active career leader). They added to the 4-0 lead in the fifth inning with a Tony Reyes leadoff solo home run over the right field fence in the fifth inning for his first home run of the season. The final run came off the bat of Narvaiz, who hit a two-out single to score Caleb Koedyker from second base.

Reyes was 3-for-4 in the contest and was the leading hit producer of six multi-hit performances for the Chaps. Stewart (2-for-3) led LCU with three RBI (all with two-outs). Joe Cannady suffered the loss for the Jets (1-5), allowing six runs off 13 hits in 4.2 innings.

Daniel Crooks started the second game for LCU and went seven shutout innings, allowing four hits and striking out six batters. He had first-pitch-strike against 12 of the first 15 batters he faced and all four hits he allowed were singles. Crooks (6-1) has now allowed one run off seven hits in his last 13 innings pitched.

Crooks combined with Colton Blackford, Nick Hooper and Christian Marquez for the shutout, with Marquez collecting the save (3) in the ninth inning. It is the third time this season Blackford has played a role in a combined shutout.

Chase Simmons opened the scoring in the nightcap, with a two-out single to score Koedyker in the fourth inning. The only other run came an inning later, with Tony Reyes driving in Narvaiz, who reached on an error for an unearned run.

Stewart was 3-for-4 in the second game with a triple and a pair of singles. Brandon Rix (2-for-5) and Koedyker (2-for-4) also had multi-hit games. Channing Williams (2-for-4) was Newman’s only multi-hit performer on the day.

Trey Tucker fell to 1-1 with the loss. The left hander was making his second start of the season and held LCU to two runs (one earned) off eight hits in six innings.

LCU improved to 31-10 with the win and their five-game win streak has them 13-3 overall. Newman fell to 18-22 overall and 5-11 overall. LCU is 3-0 against Newman this season and concludes their three-game Heartland Conference series Saturday at 1 p.m. at Hays Field. The contest is LCU’s annual Strikeout Hunger event, as the donation of five canned food items allows individuals free admission to the game (10 food items donated grants family access). All donations will be further donated to the South Plains Food Bank. There will be food, games and music all beginning at 11:30 a.m.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

.382 | LCU hit .382 Friday with 26 hits (allowed eight) and had a 9-0 advantage in extra-base hits (six doubles, a triple and two home runs).

.714 | Brent Stewart was 5-of-7 (.714) in the doubleheader and is now 6-for-10 against Newman this season. Of his five hits Friday, he had a triple and home run for 10 total bases.

1-for-15 | Newman was .067 at the plate with runners in scoring position and 1-for-21 with runners on base.

7-0 | LCU is 7-0 in shutout results this season.

15 | The Chaps had 15 hits with two outs Friday, hitting .517 (15-of-29) in two-out at-bats. Five of their eight runs came with two-out RBI.

23 | Newman hit into 21 ground outs, with Josh Narvaiz collected 10 assists on the day at second base.

(Courtesy LCU Sports Information Department)