LAREDO, Texas (March 14, 2021) – Lubbock Christian University scored early and they scored very often on Sunday, using an eight-run ninth inning to blow out Texas A&M International 19-6 at Jorge Haynes Field.
 
The win gave the Chaps their second series victory of the year and moved them 6-9 on the year and 5-7 in Lone Star Conference play. The Dustdevils dropped to 6-12 both overall an in league play.
 
LCU's victory was also the first of the year for starting pitcher Tyler Hardwick, as well as his first in Chap uniform. He pitched for a career-high six innings, allowing just three runs on six hits and three walks.
 
Hardwick was able to work with a lead the entire time on the mound, as the Chap offense scored three runs in the top of the first. Leadoff batter Eduardo Acosta set the tone with a triple down the left field line, and LCU pushed him across and loaded the bases before TAMIU ever recorded an out. Mason Donohoe drove in a second run with a sacrifice fly and George Mendazona singled home another before the frame concluded.
 
The Dustdevils got a run back in the bottom half of the first, but LCU added two runs in the second. Caden Hensley scored after reaching via an error, and Colin Gordon crushed a solo home run to right center for the fifth Chap run of the day.
 
In the third, it was Donohoe at the plate to lead things off, and he hit his first home run of the season. Hensley and Mendazona then got on base and both came around to score on a double by Grant Griffin. Lubbock Christian loaded the bases again after the double with walks to Gordon and Luis Navarro, allowing Trevor Andrus to plate two more runs with a single before TAMIU finally got out of the inning, now trailing 10-1.
 
In both the third and fourth innings, Texas A&M International scratched across runs, but Hardwick kept them scoreless in the fifth and sixth.
 
Acosta plated another run in the seventh, doing all the work himself with a solo home run. In the bottom of the inning, TAMIU looked poised to score again, loading the bases with two outs, but Cade Acrey came out of the bullpen and got a strikeout to crush the rally.
 
Still leading 11-5 in the top of the ninth, LCU's offense really went to work. Mendazona walked to lead things off and Acosta plated him with a single, but that was the least of TAMIU's worries. With two runners on, Gordon hit his second home run of the game for another three runs, putting LCU by 10.
 
Then the wheels fell off of the Dustdevil defense, with two straight errors by the shortstop extending LCU's at-bat. The Chaps took advantage with RBI singles from Parker Rumsey and Griffin, eventually leading 19-5 heading to the last half of the ninth.
 
Acrey allowed one final run, but ended the game by inducing a flyout.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
.500 | Lubbock Christian hit .500 with runners in scoring position in the series finale, including 3-for-6 with the bases loaded
.672 | In the ever-changing battle for the team lead in slugging percentage, Eduardo Acosta and Colin Gordon are now tied for the team-lead at .672
14 | Nolan Machibroda drew two walks in the win, giving him 14 for the season, which is the fourth-highest mark in the LSC
.500 | Luis Navarro collected two hits and drew a walk in six trips to the plate, keeping his on-base percentage for the season at exactly .500
21 | LCU's 21 home runs this year (four in Sunday's game) are the most in the Lone Star Conference, two ahead of Oklahoma Christian
 
NEXT UP
The Chaps will return home for their next series, hosting Texas A&M-Kingsville for three games at Hays Field. First pitch for the series opener is 6 p.m. on March 19.