PUEBLO, Colo. (February 28, 2016) – A three-run two-out rally in the sixth inning and an eight inning pitching performance by Brent Bezio helped No.6 Lubbock Christian University edge Colorado State University – Pueblo 4-3 Sunday at Rawlings Field to split a four-game series.
 
Heading into the sixth inning, LCU trailed 2-1 and their only offense had been a two-out single by Brent Stewart, which scored Chase Simmons. Stewart was part of LCU's three-run sixth inning, hitting a two-out single and then scoring on a two-run triple by Jaime Bustamante, putting LCU up 3-2. Wilhelm made it 4-2 by following with a single up the middle.
 
CSU-Pueblo tried to rally back in the eighth inning. Taylor Snyder hit a double and eventually scored on a fly ball hit to left fielder Brett Wilhelm.  As Wilhelm caught the fly ball, Snyder tagged up to advance to third base. Wilhelm lost his footing on the rugged Rawlings Field outfield and went down. The out was registered, as Wilhelm maintained control during the catch process, but Snyder was able to score from second and cut LCU's lead to 4-3. Brandon Castaneda reached on a single in the ninth inning, but Glen Warrick, who pitched the ninth for LCU, was able to get a strikeout and Simmons threw down to first base to pick-off Castaneda to end the game. Warrick picked up the save.
 
LCU's Bezio tossed over 120 pitches in his longest pitching performance of the season. In his eight innings, Bezio allowed three runs (two earned) of nine hits and had nine strikeouts. He improved to 3-0. CSU-Pueblo started Cameron Weinberg and he went 5.2 innings allowing four runs off eight hits. He fell to 0-2 with the loss.
 
All four LCU runs were with two outs. Stewart went 3-for-3 with two outs and went 3-for-4 in the game. Wilhelm also finished with three hits (3-for-5). Bustamante led LCU with two runs driven in off a 2-for-3 performance. Jordan Godman (2-for-5), Gilbert Sauceda (2-for-4) and Castaneda (2-for-4) each co-led CSU-Pueblo in the loss.
 
The series split (2-2) put LCU at 11-3 and CSU-Pueblo 6-5 on the season. The series was LCU's first on Colorado soil. LCU returns home Thursday to host Texas-Permian Basin at 6 p.m. in a non-conference contest.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
0 – Number of bases loaded hits in the combined four-game series.
.571 – Bustamante led LCU with eight hits in the series and hit .571 (8-of-14)
1-for-9 – CSU-Pueblo was 1-for-9 in the game in two-out at-bats.
7 – Warrick's save marks him as the third different Chap with a save this season and it was his seventh career save.
9 – Bezio's nine strikeouts is an individual season high. No Chaps pitcher has had at least 10 since Sam Fry on Feb. 21, 2014 (vs. Texas A&M International).
11 – LCU stranded a season high 11 batters.