KINGSVILLE, Texas (May 12, 2021) – Lubbock Christian fell behind early but clawed their way back into a 5-5 draw before seeing Texas A&M-Kingsville pull away late for a 9-5 win in the Lone Star Conference Tournament series opener on Friday at Nolan Ryan Field.
 
The Chaps (19-22) will now need to win twice on Saturday in order to stay alive and advance to the LSC Tournament final site next weekend.
 
Texas A&M-Kingsville jumped out in front in the game's first inning, scoring four runs before Shandon Herrera was able to get three outs. Two of the runs came on a blast to right center by TAMUK designated hitter Steven Bonuz.
 
Herrera did not come back into the game but was replaced by left-hander Armando Valle, who had a workmanlike performance and allowed his offense to get back in the game. Valle put up three straight zeroes and allowed just one run in his six innings of work overall (fifth inning) but pitched with runners on base in every frame. He loaded the bases in both the third and fourth innings but got out of it with a double play each time.
 
After Valle allowed his lone run in the fifth to put the Javelinas up by five, LCU's offense finally broke through. George Mendazona walked to start the frame, and Larry Leitha worked a one-out walk as well. Edgar Hernandez then hit a hard ground ball into the hole on the right side of the infield that bounded off the TAMUK second basemen and plated LCU's first run.
 
Caden Hensley followed with a single of his own on a scorching one-hopper to the Javelina third basemen that was hit so hard it stuck in the fielder's glove and allowed him to reach. Nolan Machibroda reached on a fielder's choice and worked a double steal play with Hensley, plating the final Chap run of the inning, bringing them within a run.
 
That run came in the seventh, as Luis Navarro hit a laser over the left field wall for his ninth home run of the season. Then in the bottom of the inning with Valle still on the mound, Navarro threw out a runner trying to steal second to close out the frame.
 
Lubbock Christian came close to taking the lead in the eighth, putting two on with two outs, but a flyout ended the threat.
 
Texas A&M-Kingsville pushed back in front in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases for center fielder Seth Spinn, who homered to center to drive in all the runs needed for them to close out the win.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
36 | With two more double plays turned in the game, the Chaps now have 36 on the season which is tied (with St. Mary's) for the most in the Lone Star Conference
.625 | TAMUK put pressure on the Chap pitchers all night, getting their leadoff batter aboard in five of their eight chances
22 | Luis Navarro's caught stealing in the bottom of the seventh was his 22^nd of the season. No LSC catcher has more than 14
.176 | Lubbock Christian had just three hits in 17 at-bats with runners on base for a .176 batting average, although they left the same amount of runners on base (eight) as the Javelinas
5.75 | Valle's excellent performance helped him increase his season strikeout total to 89 and lower his ERA to 5.75
 
NEXT UP
Game two of the series will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Nolan Ryan Field. If the Chaps win and force game three, it will begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game two.