Oklahoma City (May 8, 2008) – The No.1
Lubbock Christian University Chaparrals benefited off a pair of back-to-back
home runs, including a grand slam by Ryan Burke, as they eliminated the No. 13
Wayland Baptist University Pioneers from the NAIA Region VI Tournament with a
10-4 victory Thursday afternoon at Jim Wade Stadium on the Oklahoma City
University campus.
Wayland Baptist jumped out to a 4-1 lead
after LCU scored the opening run in the first inning with a two-out single
scoring Will Stramp, as the Pioneers received two-run homers from starting
pitcher Todd Jeffress and Jonathan Torres in the second inning. The Chaps had
trouble responding, hitting into a pair of double plays with runners in scoring
position and less than two outs, but they finally got to Jeffress in the fifth
inning. Rob Learned hit his second home run of the tournament and
18th of the season for a pair of runs and Tyler Johnson followed with
a solo shot for back-to-back shots to tie the game 4-4. LCU regained the lead
in the sixth inning after Jeffress intentionally walked Buck Britton, who was
0-for-3, to load the bases for Burke. Burke responded with his sixth home run
and his second grand slam of the season for an 8-4 lead. That would be it for
Jeffress on the mound, as he went 5 1/3 innings and gave up 12 hits and eight
earned runs while striking out only one Chaps batter. Jeffress surrendered 14
home runs on the season and seven came against the Chaps. Chris Nettles
relieved Jeffress, but the results did not immediately change. Nettles’ first
pitch was thrown behind Will Stramp, but the following pitch was sent over the
left field wall to complete the second round of back-to-back home runs for the
Chaps and a 9-4 lead. The Chaps closed the scoring in the eighth inning with a
sacrifice fly by Learned, scoring Britton.
Tanner Vickers went the distance, pitching
all nine innings for his third complete game of the season. He gave up just
three earned runs off five hits to improve to 10-1. Stramp went four-for-four
with an RBI, Burke went three-for-five with four RBI, Learned went two-for-four
with four RBI, and Johnson went three-for-for-four with an RBI, as the two
through five batters in the lineup combined for a 12-for-17 afternoon with four
homers and ten RBI.
LCU improves to 52-2 on the season and
will play the winner of the match-up between Oklahoma City and Oklahoma Baptist Friday
morning at 11 am, and the game will be broadcasted on KKAM Sports Radio 1340 and
simulcasted on www.LCUchaps.com and on
TSRNSports.com presented by Partners Financial
Group.
Farmers Branch, Texas (May 8, 2008) –
After pitching ten scoreless innings in a 2-0 afternoon victory over No. 6 St.
Gregory’s University, Marissa Gonzalez went on to pitch an addition seven
scoreless innings Thursday to lead the No. 9 nationally ranked Lubbock Christian
University Lady Chaparrals to a 1-0 victory over the top seeded and No. 3
nationally ranked Oklahoma City Stars.
The back-to-back shutouts, as the Lady
Chaps went 3-0 on the opening day of the NAIA Region VI Tournament, places the
Lady Chaps in the 2 p.m. championship game against an opponent to be determined
Friday morning. Kelly Griego produced the game winning run in each of the final
two games for LCU. Against St. Gregory’s University, Griego hit a solo lead-off
homer in the tenth inning, and against OCU, Griego hit a run producing single to
score the lone run. The opening game for LCU was a 12-1 win over College of the
Southwest.
The Lady Chaps ended OCU’s win streak at
22 games and garnered their 50th win of the season. The inaugural
program improves to 50-8 on the year. LCU has done their part to unofficially
secure an at large bid to the NAIA National Championships, but a win Friday
would place them with an automatic birth as regional champions. If the Lady
Chaps lose the 2 p.m. contest, they would play an additional championship
elimination game at 4 p.m. The LCU contests will be aired live on LCUChaps.com
and TSRNsports.com.
(courtesy: LCU)
