CLEBURNE, Texas (May 12, 2018) – Lubbock Christian University's run towards their first Heartland Conference Tournament title fell short Saturday at The Depot, as St. Edward's University dodged a five-run seventh inning from the Chaparrals and defeated LCU 13-9 to claim their sixth consecutive tournament title.
 
Entering the seventh inning stretch trailing 10-3, LCU attempted a rally during a zany home half inning. With two aboard and one out, LCU's Will Clark reached on an infield single, but during the attempted put-out, second baseman Mathew Jimenez threw the ball to the facing of the first base dugout. Andres Negron, breaking for home on the passed ball, scored while the throw home from the first base dugout was thrown wide and went off the facing of the third base dugout, leading to a pair of errors on the play. Braden Hayward followed with a triple to score Keaton Greenwalt and Clark. Three pitching changes transpired over the next three batters, as Logan Nethercot walked, Scotland Church singled and Andrew Pratt walked with the bases loaded. Jake Davis, who came on for the save with the bases loaded and the tying run at first base, surrendered an RBI-single to Ryan Rogers and LCU trailed 10-8. Rogers was the seventh consecutive batter to reach base safely, as one out remained while Rogers' hit placed the tying run at second base.  Negron, who had produced a two-out two-run bases loaded single in the fourth inning, was unable to find success in a bases loaded at-bat in the seventh inning, as he hit into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded and the Hilltoppers avoided surrendering their lead.
 
The Hilltoppers responded in the eighth inning facing Ricky Contreras, who was making his second relief appearance of the season and his second tournament appearance (pitched a complete game Thursday in LCU's win over St. Mary's), with Dylan Mackin hitting a two-out 3-2-pitch for a RBI-single and a 11-8 lead. Blake Alexander added to the lead in the ninth inning with an RBI-single to left field, which led to an additional run scoring on an outfield error to extend the SEU lead to 13-8.
 
Davis allowed two hits over the final 2.2 innings, and was able to use the five run lead to his advantage. Senior Brenon Rhodes pinch hit and hit a solo home run to lead off the ninth inning for his first homer of the season. Scotland Church completed a four-hit performance with an infield single, but it turned out to be LCU's final hit of the game.
 
The teams traded a run in the third inning, with LCU's run coming across on a two-out double from Dillon Drury. SEU then rattled off five runs in the fourth inning.  They hit for the cycle in the inning, with Zach Schindler producing a triple and William Hairston hitting a two-run homer for a 6-1 lead. Following Negron's bases loaded single to cut the deficit to 6-3, SEU answered right back in the fifth inning with Mackin hitting a two-run triple.
 
Mackin finished the game with four RBI. He was one of seven Hilltoppers with a multi-hit performance, which was topped by Blake Holub's trio of hits (3-for-6). Holub was the starting pitcher, who went 3.2 innings and allowed three runs off six hits, while walking six batters. Josiah Chupik (1-0) claimed his first win, going 2.2 innings in relief and allowing four runs (one earned) off three hits.
 
Daniel Crooks suffered the loss (4-5) going 3.2 innings and surrendering six runs off seven hits. Chandler Casey pitched 3.1 innings in relief and allowed four runs (two earned) off five hits.
 
Church went 4-for-6 to cap an incredible tournament performance. The senior hit .667 in the four games of the tournament, going 14-of-21 in Cleburne with a 1.048 slugging mark. LCU hit .344 as a team in the tournament, but unfortunately their pitching staff had a 10.00 ERA.
 
The performance by Church led to All-Tournament honors.  Greenwalt and Andrew Pratt  (each went 6-for-17, .353) joined Church on the All-Tournament Team.
 
SEU improved to 33-19 with the win and claimed an automatic berth to the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament. LCU falls to 34-20 with the loss. The meeting was the 10^th meeting of the season between the two programs and SEU won the final seven meetings for an 8-2 series advantage, meaning 40% of LCU's losses on the season were to St. Edward's. 
 
Despite winning six of their last eight games (all to regionally ranked teams), the Chaps will more than likely miss a third consecutive trip to the South Central Region Tournament (third season eligible). Tarleton State, unranked in the latest region rankings, received the Lone Star Conference's automatic berth by upsetting West Texas A&M in the LSC Tournament.