LUBBOCK, Texas (March 13, 2022) – Lubbock Christian University clobbered five home runs, including three from designated hitter Mason Donohoe, in a run-rule victory over Texas A&M International Saturday, clinching the series win heading into Sunday's series finale.
 
At the beginning of the game, Donohoe was the only player in the Chaparral starting lineup without a homer to his named this season. That changed throughout the game, as the Round Rock native homered in the second, fifth and eighth innings while adding in a single and a walk for good measure. It is the first three-homer game since Larry Leitha had three against Oklahoma Christian May 8, 2021.
 
Even with the high score, LCU (16-5, 14-5 LSC) had several innings where they went without scoring. That included the first, when the TAMIU starter worked around George Mendazona's single by gloving a lineout and doubling the runner off first.
 
Donohoe's first homer of the day put the Chaps on top in the bottom of the second as LCU starting pitcher Ty Stephenson worked two scoreless frames to start the game. In the third though, Stephenson walked a batter and gave up a home run to briefly give the Dustdevils the lead.
 
LCU batted around in the bottom of the third, collecting six runs on six hits to go up 7-2 and take the lead for good.
 
Stephenson was removed from the game after a leadoff walk in the fourth and Peyton Hutson came in to take over on the mound, squelching any thoughts of a TAMIU rally. The Chaps also went scoreless in the fourth, but they added to their lead in the fifth.
 
Donohoe added the first run, crushing a solo shot to right center, before Carson Ogilvie joined the homer party with a solo shot of his own. It was his third home run of the weekend for the Chap shortstop, who had none entering the weekend.
 
Lubbock Christian broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth. Luis Navarro clubbed his fifth home run of the season to score himself and Mendazona, forcing TAMIU to bring in a second reliever. The first two batters the new reliever faced reached and scored before he was able to settle in and get his team back in the dugout.
 
The Dustdevils pulled back within single-digits and avoided the run-rule loss briefly, getting two runs off Hutson on a two-run double. LCU then went scoreless in the bottom of the seventh, but they got their guy to the plate in the eighth.
 
Donohoe led things off in the frame, taking a strike and a ball before swinging again, this time going opposite field for a home run over the wall in right center to end the game.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
38 | With five more home runs on the day, Lubbock Christian now has 38 on the season, leading the LSC by 13
.328  | LCU shortstop Carson Ogilvie is 7-11 in the series, raising his batting average over the .300 mark for the first time this season
5-0 | Peyton Hutson got the win in relief, moving to 5-0 on the season. All five of his wins have come out of the bullpen
 
NEXT UP
Lubbock Christian will try for their second series sweep of the yearon Monday when they take on Texas A&M International in the finale at 1 p.m. at Hays Field.