TUCSON, Ariz. (March 19, 2015) – When they arrived to Kino Sports Complex, Lubbock Christian University was preparing to face Mayville State University… When they left the complex, they departed with a 14-1 victory over Marian University (WI) at the Tucson Invitational Games.
Morning rain showers postponed a 9 a.m. (11 a.m. Central) original start time for LCU and Mayville State University, along with the other games at the complex. Tournament organizers and head coaches conducted a meeting and all games were postponed to 10 a.m. With the postponements, Mayville was in a bind, as they had another game scheduled later in the day prior to departing back home (Chaps did not have another game scheduled Thursday). Needing to play a pair of seven inning games (instead of nine), rules do not allow for teams to play two seven-inning games against different opponents, Mayville rescheduled with a doubleheader with St. John's and St. John's originally scheduled opponent (Marian) was rescheduled to play LCU.
The NCAA Div. III program based in Fond du Lac, Wisc. was initially happy with the change as they held LCU without a run in the first inning as LCU had the bases loaded and one out, and took a 1-0 lead off a trio of first inning hits. The Chaps bats came alive in the third inning.
Jose Favela grounded in
Wade Stramp to tie the game at 1-1 and
Brett Wilhelm (single) and
Ethan Kohnle (double) followed with two-out base hits and LCU led 3-1. Wilhelm struck again in the fifth inning with an RBI-single to score
Jesse Pintado, who was at third base following the first of two doubles by
Gerardo Arzaga. The Chaps added to the 4-1 lead with a two-run sixth and two-run seventh to set the stage for an explosive eighth inning. LCU produced five hits in the eighth inning and all were extra-base hits leading to a six-run inning and a 14-1 lead.
Shane Crawford hit a two-run home run for his team co-leading third homer of the season during the offensive inning.
The Chaps produced 18 hits in the game with eight extra-base hits (six doubles tied a season high). Arzaga was a big table-sitter, going four 4-for-5 with two runs scored. He is now 8-for-13 in Tucson. Crawford led the team in RBI with four off a 2-for-4 performance. Kohnle was 3-for-5 with three runs-batted-in. Favela (2-for-4) and Wilhelm (2-for-3 with two stolen bases) each drove in two runs. Every starting player in the order had at least a hit for LCU, including
Ryan Rogers, who had a double for his first collegiate hit. LCU was able to have the lead-off batter reach seven of the eight times during the game.
Brig Gerlich started on the hill for LCU and went six innings allowing one run off seven hits and produced five strikeouts to improve to 4-3. Mark Wallace started for the Sabres and went 0-1 with the loss. He allowed three runs off five hits in 3.2 innings before Marian went to the bullpen five times.
The win was LCU's second straight win in Tucson and they are 2-2 on the current Tucson trip. They are 12-13 overall. Marian fell to 2-7 overall. The Chaps return to action Friday at 7 p.m. (9 p.m. Central) facing Valley City, North Dakota based Valley City State University.
