KINGSVILLE, Texas (February 14, 2020) – Lubbock Christian had its second ninth-inning comeback of the season on Friday but failed to take the lead against Texas A&M-Kingsville, losing 2-1 in 10 innings.
 
The Javelinas took a 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the first inning and it looked like that run might stand up as the difference, with neither team scoring again through the next seven innings. LCU finally broke through in the top of the ninth inning, however, tying the game at 1-1  when pinch runner Grant Griffin scored on a wild pitch with two outs.
 
Koi Carrillo shut down TAMUK in the bottom of the ninth, forcing the extra frame. In the 10^th, LCU looked primed to take their first lead of the day, getting leadoff batter Larry Leitha on with a single and eventually loading the bases with just one out. Back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat.
 
The Javelinas then put a pair of runners on with one out in the 10^th with Carrillo still on the mound. He induced  ground ball to third base that looked ripe for a double play, but the relay throw to first was in the dirt, allowing the unearned game-winner to score.
 
Texas A&M Kingsville's first run in the bottom of the first came off of Lubbock Christian's starter Ty Stephenson, as Stephenson walked the first two batters, ultimately giving up a run on a single from Giancarlo Servin. Stephenson settled in after the opening frame though, battling through a bend-don't-break outing. He ended up throwing 121 pitches through seven and two thirds innings. Stephenson had a lot of traffic on the bases with seven walks, but struck out a season-high seven batters as well.
 
LCU's first baserunner came in the third inning, when AJ Perez beat out an infield single for his first hit of the day. Perez stole second, but was stranded there. The Chaps stranded a runner at third in the fourth and sixth innings. In the seventh inning, Perez singled again. Then with two outs, Edgar Hernandez singled to push him to third, but Hernandez was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double to end the inning.
 
The Chaps' best chance to take a lead in the game was in the 10^th, when Leitha led off with a single before George Mendazona walked to move him to second. Luis Navarro tried to move the pair up a base with a bunt but popped it up to the first basemen. Leitha took matters into his own hands, stealing third base, and Skyler Nelson followed up with another walk to load the bases with one out. Tate Ellison and Gavy Perez-Torres struck out to preserve the tie.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
.375 | Perez had two hits in three at-bats to lead the Chaps, raising his batting average for the season to .375
13 | In their 13^th pinch-hitting chance of the season, LCU finally had a batter collect a hit, as Perez-Torres beat out a bunt pinch hitting for Trevor Andrus in the ninth
.191 | Lubbock Christian went 0-13 with runners in scoring position in the loss and is now batting .191 in those situations this season
5 | Carrillo made his fifth appearance in just seven games so far this season, keeping him first in the Lone Star Conference in that category
85 | The Chaps swiped another two bases in the game, giving them 12 for the season and putting them on pace to steal 85 for the year
 
NEXT UP
Lubbock Christian will play its first doubleheader of the season on Saturday, taking on Texas A&M-Kingsville in a pair of seven inning games starting at 2 p.m. at Nolan Ryan Field.