SAN ANGELO, Texas (May 20, 2017) – JR McDermott and Tyler Day combined to hold No.11 Lubbock Christian University to three hits and No.3 Colorado Mesa University defeated the Chaparrals 3-2 Saturday evening in the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament at Foster Field. The Chaps will now face No.5 Angelo State Sunday at noon in an elimination contest, with the winner advancing to a 7 p.m. contest against Colorado Mesa.
 
McDermott Held LCU to one hit over five innings and retired the Chaps in order in four of the first five innings. He faced 12 consecutive LCU batters without allowing a hit. His replacement on the hill was Tyler Day, who entered the game in the sixth inning. He retired 10 of the 11 batters he faced and went 3.1 shutout and hitless innings in relief. The two combined for 13 strikeouts, with McDermott registering seven strikeouts and Day striking out six of the 11 batters he faced.
 
Despite the lack of offense, LCU had scoring opportunities. They took the game's first lead in the second inning. Ryan Rogers led off walking and Chase Simmons followed with a double down the right field line. An errant throw attempting to get Simmons out at second base (on the double) allowed Rogers to advance home for a 1-0 lead. The  Mavericks responded in the top of the third inning with a two-run home run over the left field fence by PJ Gonzalez (eighth home run of the season) for a 2-1 CMU lead. They made it 3-1 in the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly by Bligh Madrid.
 
LCU received a sacrifice fly of their own in the sixth inning, with Rogers lifting a fly ball to plate Brandon Urquizo. Unfortunately for LCU, the one run in the sixth inning would be the lone run in the inning, which began with the Chaps loading the bases with no-outs. LCU stranded four runners in the game, with a pair stranded at third base.
 
Daniel Crooks started on the mound for LCU. Crooks, who had not allowed more than five hits in his last six starts, allowed nine hits over eight innings. Eight of the hits came Crook's first four innings of work. He (9-2) held CMU to one hit over his final four innings pitched (span of 18 batters). McDermott received the win (9-1) and Day claimed his fourth save.
 
Matt Haggerty (2-for-4), Gonzalez (2-for-5), JJ Carr (2-for-5) of CMU had the game's only multi-hit performances. Rogers was 0-for-1 with an RBI and reached base twice via walks. Two of LCU's three hits in the game were infield singles and each of the infield singles came in the sixth inning (Urquizo and Brandon Rix produced the hits).
 
LCU fell to 38-15 on the season with the loss. They hope to have a busy Sunday, opening the day at noon facing Angelo State, with Colorado Mesa (46-10) awaiting the winner at 7 p.m. LCU is 0-3 this season against Angelo State.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
0-for-5 | LCU opponents are 0-for-5 in the tournament with runners in scoring position, while LCU is 2-for-15 (.133) in the tournament.
1 | Each team had one extra base hit Saturday.
2-for-20 | LCU, 0-for-9 Saturday in two-out at-bats, is 2-for-20 (.100) in the tournament in two-out at-bats.
3-3 | LCU is 3-3 all-time in NCAA postseason play.
5 | LCU has 10 hits at this season's regional tournament and five have been infield singles. Ryan Rogers has two.
7-1 | The loss was LCU's first when scoring less than three runs, but at least scoring in a game. They are now 7-1 in those contests this season.
8-7 | LCU fell to 8-7 in one-run decisions this season. They have played three consecutive one-run games for a second time this season (late February was the last).
26 | The Chaps have suffered 26 strikeouts at the plate in the tournament.