PUEBLO, Colo. (February 26, 2016) – Lubbock Christian University came back from a three-run deficit in the eighth inning, but could not rally for the win as an unearned run off a wild pitch proved to be the difference in a 4-3 win by Colorado State – Pueblo in LCU's first road game of the season and their first game on Colorado soil in program history.
 
LCU entered the top of the eighth inning trailing 3-0 and stormed back taking advantage of the exit of starting pitcher Brandon Conlin, who pitched eight scoreless innings to extend his streak of innings without an earned run allowed to 19 innings. Jaime Bustamante led off with a single and Brent Stewart followed with his team-leading second home run of the season to put LCU on the scoreboard and cut CSU-Pueblo's lead to 3-2. Without putting a ball in play, LCU was able to follow the home run by loading the bases via a pair of walks and a hit batter. Wilhelm was able to get a sacrifice fly RBI and tie the game at 3-3. JP Rousseau nearly gave LCU the lead with a liner to centerfield, but Jordan Godman was able to make a diving catch to end LCU's threat.
 
In the bottom of the eighth inning, an error on a throw to second base by Rousseau (catcher) resulted in a runner on second and third base. Ricky Contreras was on the hill in relief for LCU and was an out away from avoiding the jam but a wild pitch allowed the go-ahead run to score for the ThunderWolves. LCU was retired in order in the ninth inning and fell for a second consecutive game.
 
CSU-Pueblo had the early lead, plating their first run in the bottom of the first inning after Godman scored on a sacrifice fly after reaching on a leadoff triple. It was one of two triples hit in the inning.  A leadoff walk to Gilbert Sauceda in the third inning led to a 2-0 lead, as he advanced on a passed ball and scored on a Francis Griffin double. Chaps starting pitcher Russell Reber settled down to retire eight of the next 10 batters he faced, but he ran into trouble with two outs in the sixth inning with no runners aboard base. Back-to-back two-out doubles led to the T'Wolves extending their lead to 3-0.
 
The Chaps had opportunities, but stumbled to take advantage of them. LCU was 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. They grounded into a double play with a runner at third base in the second inning and with two aboard in the fourth inning. LCU also had three outs resulting from failed stolen base attempts.
 
Bustamante (3-for-4) and Hunter McFall (2-for-3) were LCU's only multi-hit performers. Stewart led LCU in RBI with two. Godman, Dominick Bregar and Beau Cebulski each went 2-for-4 for CSU-Pueblo.
 
Conlin, who did not allow a run and struck out five batters, did not figure into the decision. The win was credited to reliever Josh Nuernberg (1-1) and a save was garnered by Jorge Venegas. Reber went 5.2 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) off 10 hits. Relievers Glen Warrick and Contreras combined for 2.1 innings and allowed only one hit. Warrick (1-1) took the loss and it was his first career loss (making his 36^th career appearance).
 
LCU fell to 9-2 with the loss, while CSU-Pueblo improved to 5-3. The four-game series continues Saturday with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. (Central) from Rawlings Field. Friday's meeting was the first ever meeting between the two teams.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
1 – Brett Wilhelm hit his first sacrifice fly of the season. He co-led LCU last season with four SAC Fly RBI.
3 – The number of times LCU was caught stealing. They were 13-for-13 in stolen bases prior to the game.
3 – The number of relief pitchers CSU-Pueblo went through in the eighth inning.