Chaps Claim Opening Knight

CEDAR HILL, Texas (February 3, 2012) - No.4 Lubbock Christian University used a seven-run eighth inning to break open a 3-3 tie and it was enough to hold off No.24 Northwood University (Texas), who closed the game with five unanswered runs, as the Chaparrals opened the 2012 season with a 10-8 win Saturday afternoon from Knights Field.

The Knights had just tied the game at 3-3 with a solo home run from Isaac Maturino in the bottom of the seventh inning when the Chaps went on their offensive surge in the eighth inning. Knights reliever Keaton Parcell had lost rhythm hitting Benny Woodard to lead off the inning and following it with a four-pitch walk to Ryan Burnaman, which included a pair of wild pitches to advance Woodard.  In came sidearm lefty Bryan Kinard and he surrendered four runs off a single from Karl Seiter, double from Richard Bohlken and a two-run double by Jason Fisch before recording the first out of the inning.  Ryan Gunhouse reached on an error to prolong the inning and it led to a two-out bases loaded double by Woodard in his second at-bat of the inning to clear the bases.

Northwood, trailing 10-3 did not back down.  Edwin Arroyo, who finished a single shy of the cycle, led off the eighth inning with a double, as part of a two-run inning, and then made things interesting with a two-out two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to cut the LCU lead to 10-7.  Austin Atwell followed with a double off the centerfield wall and in came Burnaman to attempt to claim the save on the mound.  The Chaps saves leader from a season ago gave up a run-scoring single to Adam Humes to place the tying run at the plate in clean-up hitter Deric Hawkins.  In one pitch, Burnaman was able to get Hawkins to ground out to second base to stamp the win and claim his first save of the season.

18 runs were scored in the game and 14 were scored in the final three innings.  Left handers Tyler Rogers of LCU and Texas Christian transfer Teddy Nowell of Northwood had a solid pitchers dual going to open the game.  Rogers went five innings and allowed a solo homer from Atwell in the first inning for the only hit allowed.  He struck out seven of the 18 batters faced.  Nowell went six innings and allowed two runs off eight hits and struck out eight Chaps.

Kyle Forsyth claimed the win in relief for LCU and opens the season 1-0.  Parcell took the loss for Northwood (0-1).  Each team went through four pitchers.  Offensively, the Chaps received a solid afternoon from Bohlken.  The Preseason All-American went 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles and an RBI.  Fisch produced the lone Chaps home run of the game with a two-run homer in the second inning and finished 3-for-5 with four RBI.

The Chaps (1-0) and Knights (0-1) continue their season opening three-game series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon from Knights Field.