LUBBOCK, Texas (May 2, 2021) – Down 8-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning, a sweep seemed all but certain for UT Tyler against Lubbock Christian University on Sunday afternoon. The Chaps did not quit fighting though, scoring 12 unanswered runs to come all the way back and beat the Patriots 12-8 in the series finale.
 
Usually with a deficit as high as eight runs early in a ballgame, the goal is to slowly chip away at it with a few runs in several different innings. LCU did a little of that, getting one run in the bottom of the third and two in the sixth on a home run by Edgar Hernandez, but all the rest of their damage was done in the decisive seventh frame.
 
The rally started with one out in the bottom of the seventh, when Grant Griffin, who did not start the game but came in as a defensive replacement in right field, was hit by a pitch. Freshman Jaxson Edwards followed with a walk. Mason Donohoe then hit a slow tapper to second base and the Patriots decided to get the runner at second, but the ball was dropped by shortstop Edward Ortiz. Originally calling Edwards safe at second, the umpires ended up reversing the decision and making Edwards the second out.
 
Hernandez, who had a great day at the plate with three hits (including his first home run in a Chap uniform) as well as a walk, singled next, driving in the first run of the inning. George Mendazona then doubled (his second of the day) to score another run and bring the Chaps within three.
 
The double brought Judson Schaper into the game for UT Tyler in relief, and Schaper did not have a good day. He hit Luis Navarro to start, loading the bases. Then, he hit Larry Leitha to drive in a run and followed by hitting Colin Gordon to make the score 8-7 and force the UTT coaches to pull him from the game.
 
Nathan Holmes came in the game next and faced Caden Hensley, who had led off the inning with a fly out. This time around though, Hensley doubled into the left center field gap, driving in two runs and giving LCU the lead. They weren't done yet though, as Griffin took the first pitch he saw from Holmes and crushed it over the left field wall. It was his fourth home run of the season and gave the Chaps the 12-8 margin of victory they ended up winning by.
 
UT Tyler had done all of its damage in the first three innings of play, scoring three in the first and three in the second off Lubbock Christian starter Shandon Herrera. Herrera threw two pitches in the third before he was lifted for Cade Acrey.
 
Although it seemed unlikely at the time, Acrey ended up closing out the game, setting new career-highs in both innings pitched (7.0) and strikeouts (8). The Lubbock native allowed two runs in his first inning on the mound to set up the 8-0 deficit, but they were both unearned. He threw 103 pitches, 66 of which were for strikes, and held UT Tyler to a .214 batting average.
 
With Acrey on the mound in the bottom of the ninth, the first batter reached via an error before a lineout was recorded. Then another Patriot walked, prompting a visit to the mound by pitching coach Jermaine Van Buren. After the meeting was over, Acrey needed just one more pitch, inducing a ground ball double play to end the game.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
4 | The win was just Lubbock Christian's fourth this season when trailing after six innings
.314 | LCU out-hit UTT .314 to .275 in the three games, including a .458 on-base percentage and a .549 slugging percentage
28 | With three hits in his five at-bats Chap catcher Luis Navarro stretches his hitting streak out to 28 straight games
.294 | Even with the 12 runs scored, LCU hit just .294 (5-17) with runners in scoring position in the win, stranding 14 runners on the bases
2.57 | Allowing no earned runs in seven innings of work, LCU reliever Cade Acrey lowered his season ERA down to 2.57
 
NEXT UP
The Chaps will wrap up the regular season at home next weekend, hosting Oklahoma Christian for three games Friday through Sunday at Hays Field.