AUSTIN, Texas (March 26, 2021) – Lubbock Christian University had their offensive chances but struggled to hit with runners in scoring position, falling 5-1 to St. Edward's on Friday at Lucian-Hamilton Field.
 
The Chaps fell to 7-12 with the loss and are now 6-10 in Lone Star Conference play, tying them with the Hilltoppers, who have the exact same league record.
 
SEU got on the board early, taking a 1-0 lead off LCU starting pitcher Ty Stephenson in the bottom of the first when Chase Cos homered to left field. Stephenson settled in after the homer though, and kept the Hilltoppers scoreless through the second and third innings, matching SEU starter Blake Holub.
 
Holub was dominant on the mound, working seven complete innings, scattering five hits and three walks while striking out 12 Chaparral batters. LCU's best chance to score off Holub was in the top of the fourth inning, when Luis Navarro and Mason Donohoe worked back-to-back one-out walks and George Mendazona reached via an error to load the bases, but the next two Chap batters struck out to end the frame.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, SEU added a second run on a hit-by-pitch, a single and a sacrifice bunt.
 
Stephenson was pushed from the game in the bottom of the fifth after a one-out walk and a single. He was replaced by Peyton Hutson, who got a pop out and a fly out to stop the Hilltoppers from adding on.
 
LCU was still in striking distance until the bottom of the sixth. SEU got a pair of solo home runs early in the frame and then got extra at-bats on a strikeout/wild pitch. The Hilltoppers took advantage of the mistake by plating another two runs to increase the lead to 5-0.
 
The Chaps had another offensive chance with Nolan Machibroda walking and Caden Hensley singling and both runners advancing into scoring position on a wild pitch. Holub bared down again though and got back-to-back strikeouts to close out his time on the mound.
 
LCU finally plated a run in the top of the eighth, using a leadoff walk by Colin Gordon, a single by Luis Navarro, a passed ball and Donohoe sacrifice fly to score. Mendazona then walked to keep the rally going, but another two Chap batters struck out to end the threat.
 
Down to their last chance, Lubbock Christian once again got runners to second and third in the ninth, but Navarro grounded out to close out the game.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
15 | Luis Navarro threw out another two would-be base-stealers in the game, increasing his conference-leading total to 15
.274 | The Chaps went 0-11 with runners in scoring position, and they are now hitting .274 (54-197) in those situations this season
1.98 | With no runs allowed in seven innings of work, SEU starter Blake Holub lowered his season ERA to 1.98, which is the second-best mark in the LSC
.377 | With two hits in four at-bats, Navarro raised his team-leading batting average back up to .377
10 | Colin Gordon hit his 10^th double of the season in the ninth inning, which ties him for the Lone Star Conference lead in that category
 
NEXT UP
The same two teams will be back at it again on Saturday, as Lubbock Christian looks to even the series at 1 p.m. at Lucian-Hamilton Field.