LAREDO, Texas (March 13, 2021) – Lubbock Christian University built an early lead again but could not hold on late this time, falling 11-10 to Texas A&M International on Saturday at Jorge Haynes Field.
 
The Chaps (5-9, 4-7) hit a solid .294 in the game, including eight hits in 21 at-bats with runners on base, but the Dustdevils collected 15 hits of their own.
 
Neither team was able to scratch across a run in the first two innings, but LCU finally broke through in the third. Eduardo Acosta started things off with an infield single, and Colin Gordon walked to follow, bringing up catcher Luis Navarro, who promptly hit a ball over the left field wall for three LCU runs.
 
The Dustdevils got a run back in the bottom of the third, but the Chaps got it back in the top of the fourth on a sacrifice fly from Gordon.
 
Continuing this way for the next few frames, TAMIU scored runs in the fourth and fifth innings, while LCU pushed runners across in the top of the fifth and seventh innings. When Mason Donohoe grounded out to end the top of the seventh, the Chaps were up 9-5.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, TAMIU went to work. The Dustdevils batted around, using five hits and a pair of walks to push four runs across and tie the game. Cannon Davis was on the mound to start the half inning for LCU and was lifted for Owen Woodward with the bases loaded and two runs already in. Woodward gave up two of the hits and walked one of the batters before finally getting a groundout to end the rally.
 
A bit of small ball put the Chaps back in front in the eighth, as Trevor Andrus walked, advanced to second on a groundout and scored on a Caden Hensley single. Again in the bottom of the frame though, Texas A&M International rallied, this time scoring twice to take the lead.
 
LCU put a runner on base via an error in the top of the ninth, but was unable to score, ending the game 11-10.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
4 | Outfielder Trevor Andrus reached base four times via the walk on Saturday, becoming the first LCU player to walk four times in a game since Andrew Pratt did it on Feb. 9 , 2019 against Cameron
.444 | LCU leadoff batters reached in four of the nine innings on Saturday, while TAMIU reached at a .625 clip (5-8) during the game
3 | Grant Griffin singled twice and hit a double for his first three-hit game of the 2021 season
.652 | With his third-inning home run, Luis Navarro was able to up his slugging percentage to .652 and now leads the team in that category
0.00 | Neither of the two runs allowed by Chap reliever Owen Woodward were earned, keeping the freshman's ERA  unblemished
 
NEXT UP
Lubbock Christian and Texas A&M International will face off in the rubber game at 1 p.m. Sunday at Jorge Haynes Field