LUBBOCK, Texas (March 19, 2021) – Lubbock Christian University took a fourth inning lead and added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth on the way to a 5-2 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville Friday at Hays Field.
 
Shandon Herrera got the win on the mound as the Chaparrals moved to 7-9 on the season and 6-7 in Lone Star Conference action, while the Javelinas fell to 9-4 both overall and in league play.
 
While Herrera ended up going five innings and allowing just two earned runs, things were rocky to start. He got one out on one pitch before walking three straight TAMUK batters to load the bases. Facing Steven Bonuz, he wriggled out of the jam, getting a ground ball double play.
 
The Chap offense then went to work giving their starting pitcher a lead. Eduardo Acosta got things going with a single to left field and moved himself into scoring position with a steal of second. He then came around to score on a double by Colin Gordon. Gordon scored himself on a sacrifice fly from George Mendazona.
 
Texas A&M-Kingsville went down without easily in the second but got to Herrera for two runs in the top of the third to tie the game. Both runs came in before the Chaps recorded out, but Herrera got a groundout and two pop outs to end the threat.
 
LCU retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Mason Donohoe led off the inning with a triple that landed just short of the right field, and Mendazona drove him in with his second sacrifice fly of the night.
 
Herrera got through the next inning with the Chaps leading 3-2 and then turned the ball over to Owen Woodward. The freshman struck out a pair of batters in his first inning of work, but in the seventh he ran into some trouble, putting two Javelinas on with no outs. He followed up with a groundout and a pair of strikeouts to hold onto the one run lead.
 
An important insurance run came in the seventh. Caden Hensley did most of the work, singling with one out and stealing second. He then came into score on an Acosta single.
 
Woodward went back out for the eight and got two more outs, but then the Javelinas got runners to second and third and the Chaps brought in Cade Acrey. Acrey struck out the next TAMUK batter, again preserving the lead.
 
For some more breathing room, LCU added a fifth and final run in the bottom of the eighth. Luis Navarro singled with one out, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Mendazona, collecting his second three-RBI game of the year.
 
Acrey went back out for the ninth and sat the Javelinas down in order, striking out the final batter to end the game.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
1 | Friday night's win over Texas A&M-Kingsville was Lubbock Christian's first over the Javelinas in program history in the seventh-ever meeting between the programs
4.11 | Woodward and Acrey combined for four innings of scoreless relief, lowering LCU's bullpen ERA for the season to 4.11
.368 | Going 3-for-4 at the plate, Eduardo Acosta raised his batting average to .368, which now leads the team
4 | Lubbock Christian swiped four bags against Texas A&M-Kingsville, which is their most in a single game this season
6 | Mason Donohoe hit LCLU's sixth triple of the season in the win, which is the second-most in the LSC
 
NEXT UP
The same two teams will face of at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hays Field, with the Chaps trying to clinch their second-straight series win.