RAMS SPLIT WITH #1 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN
February 7, 2010

FORT WORTH, TX:  Fans at LaGrave field were treated to a pair of pitcher’s duels on Sunday.  Texas Wesleyan (2-3) split a doubleheader with top-ranked and defending NAIA National Champion Lubbock Christian University (2-2).  The Chaps took game one 2-1, before the Rams took game two 1-0 in ten innings.

On the day, three Texas Wesleyan pitchers limited Lubbock Christian to just two runs on seven hits in 17 innings.

In game one, LCU’s starter, Frank Corolla, worked around a leadoff double from Adam Resendez in the second inning, but the Rams got on the board in the third with a two-out triple from Leighton Rush and an RBI single from Morgan Marr.

Austin Stewart lifted a line drive to deep left-center to start the fourth inning, but centerfielder Nick Schrock robbed him of a double with a spectacular diving catch.  Schrock appeared to have another terrific play to end the inning.  Schrock and right fielder Ryan Jacobi collided while chasing a ball off the bat of Ross Blondin.  Schrock corralled the ball and appeared to have Blondin thrown out easily at second base, but Blondin was ruled safe on the play.  After a walk to Joe Staley, TWU’s Joey Evans got J.J. Muse to fly to shallow center and end the inning.

In the sixth, J.J. Muse singled through the right side scoring Doug Kroll from third.  Jacobi appeared to have Christian Soberanes thrown out at the plate, but Soberanes was ruled safe with the go-ahead run.

Corolla (1-0) made the lead stand up for Lubbock Christian.  He allowed one run on four hits while striking out 10 in seven innings of work.  Evans (0-1) was the tough luck loser after allowing two runs on five hits while stirking out seven in seven innings pitched.

Game two was also scheduled for seven innings.  TWU’s Lance Parker and Drew Canvender combined to hold the top-ranked Chaps to just two hits for ten innings.  Meanwhile LCU’s Paul Gonzalez and Tristan Gaines scattered seven hits across 9.2 innings.

The game remained scoreless with two outs in the bottom of the tenth when Leighton Rush was hit by a pitch.  Morgan Marr then blooped a single to left.  Rush aggressively took third on the play and the Chaps left fielder threw wildly back to the infield allowing Rush to score the game-winning run.

Rush went 2-for-4 with a double and a triple in game two and three for seven with two triples and a double on the day.  Mikey Horn added a pair of hits in game two for the Rams.

Cavender (1-0) earned the win after tossing four innings of scoreless relief.  He allowed just one hit while striking out five.  Parker struck out four and allowed one hit in six innings of work.  Gaines (0-1) took the loss after allowing one unearned run on two hits while striking out four in 2.2 innings of work.

The Rams will return to action on Tuesday, when they host Abilene Christian University.  That game is scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. start at LaGrave Field.