LUBBOCK, Texas (March 6, 2021) – Lubbock Christian University collected 13 hits and put a runner in scoring position in eight out of the nine innings on Saturday but still fell 7-1 to No. 1 Angelo State at Hays Field.
 
The Chaps (3-8, 2-6) struggled to hit with runners in scoring position throughout the game, collecting just one hit in 13 opportunities. The Rams (11-1, 7-1) were also held to just one hit in 12 at-bats with runners in scoring position, but they were able to take advantage of the free bases given by LCU.
 
Lubbock Christian started the game strong, as hurler Shandon Herrera got the first three Angelo State batters out, thanks to a ground ball double play. Then in the bottom of the first, catcher Luis Navarro hit a two-out double, giving LCU an opportunity to take an early lead. ASU starter Benjamin Elder got a strikeout to end the threat.
 
The double by Navarro sparked a great day both at the plate and behind it for the junior from Panama. He collected three more hits as the game went on, two of which were doubles. He ended the game 4-for-5 with an RBI and his three doubles matched the LCU program record, which has been done 24 other times, including most recently by Scotland Church in 2018. He also threw out three runners from his spot behind the dish.
 
ASU went down in order again in the second, but they got their first baserunner in the third, as Jackson Hardy doubled with one out. Herrera got a flyout from the next batter and a foul-out to end the inning.
 
It again looked as though the Chaps were in business to score some runs in the bottom of the third, as Trevor Andrus led off with a double and Larry Leitha followed with a single. Back-to-back strikeouts and a flyout ended the threat.
 
The Rams took the lead in the fourth, using a pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch to load the bases before Jordan Williams walked in a run. A sacrifice fly pushed in the second, before Hardy singled to push the lead to 4-0. A caught stealing finally stopped the rally.
 
LCU got a runner to third in the bottom of the inning but couldn't get him home again. In the fifth, however, they did score. Colin Gordon singled to center field and a double from Navarro down the left field line gave him the time to get to the plate.
 
ASU scored twice more off Cannon Davis, who replaced Herrera on the mound for the Chaps, in the sixth inning, with both runs unearned. Counting walks, hit batters, errors and wild pitches as one category of free bases, the Chaps gave up 13 in the loss.
 
Carson Childers came in to relieve Elder in the bottom of the seventh. Lubbock Christian fared well against him offensively as well, but still couldn't push runs across. The 8^th inning was their best chance for a rally, as the Chaps loaded the bases with just one out, but back-to-back strikeouts by Childers stopped them from scoring even one run while he closed out the game.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
.382 | With four hits in five at-bats, Luis Navarro moved into the team lead with a .382 batting average this season
13 | LCU's 13 hits were their most in a losing effort since April 19, 2019, when they had 15 in a 15-10 loss at Texas A&M International
0.64 | The Chaps scored just the second earned run all season off Angelo State starter Benjamin Elder, slightly raising his ERA to 0.64
32 | Herrera and Davis combined to hit four Angelo State batters in the game, raising LCU's season total to 32, which leads the Lone Star Conference
.310 | Eduardo Acosta had three straight hits in his last three at-bats of the game, raising his season batting average to .310
 
NEXT UP
Lubbock Christian will look to salvage a game in the series and stop its five-game losing streak in the series finale on Sunday, which is set to start at 1 p.m.