CANYON, Texas (April 1, 2022) – It was a cold and windy night at Wilder Park as Lubbock Christian University and West Texas A&M met in a top-25 matchup, which ended with the Chaps on top 8-5.
 
The Chaps (23-8, 21-8) beat the starting pitcher for the Buffs (25-6, 23-6) Nick Marshall, handing him his first loss of the season, while Tyler Hardwick moved to 2-1 on the mound for LCU. It was the third win for the Chaps this season over a team ranked in the top 25 nationally.
 
It was a pitcher's duel through the first two frames, as Hardwick and Marshall traded shutout frames. The Chaparral starter induced his first two double plays in the frames.
 
Lubbock Christian finally broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third with one out. It was the second time through the order for the Chaps, and Eduardo Acosta got things going with a single to center field. George Mendazona followed with another single to push Acosta to third and bring up Luis Navarro. The Chap catcher took one pitch before crushing a home run over the wall in right field.
 
West Texas A&M got a run back in the bottom of the frame and the game was still in favor of the Chaps 3-1 when the top of the order came back up in the top of the fifth. Mendazona singled again Navarro followed with his second homer of the night, clearing the yard over the right field wall again.
 
LCU's catcher would single again before the game ended, finishing 4-for-5 at the plate with 10 total bases. His average for the season is now up to .405, and he is tied for the team lead with eight total home runs.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the Buffs got the two runs back. LCU answered with another run, as Grant Griffin laid down a perfect bunt with runners at first and third to send Jarred Gibson hustling home.
 
Hardwick's final inning on the mound was the sixth, and the Buffs came about as close as possible to scoring a couple more runs off the Chap starter. He struck out the first WT batter he faced before a double and a walk put him in a jam. A single through the left side from the next batter looked like it would score a run, but a strong through from Acosta to Navarro nabbed the runner. The next Buff batter also singled – this time to center field – could've scored a run as well, but this time Larry Leitha made the strong throw, ending the inning with another out at the plate.
 
Lubbock Christian added its final two runs in the seventh, loading the bases and walking in one before Carson Ogilvie singled to drive in Navarro.
 
Peyton Hutson came on in relief and pitched three solid innings. He continued the double play trend started by Hardwick, inducing one in the seventh and another to end the game in the ninth. It was the fifth double play turned by the Chaps, matching a program record which has been accomplished three other times. The last time it occurred was Feb. 2, 2017 against East Central.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
17 | The Chap hitters stuck out 17 times in the win, which is their most in a single game this season. The last time they struck out more than 17 times in a game was April 2, 2021, when they struck out 18 times in a game that was also against West Texas A&M
.533 | Lubbock Christian was 8-15 when batting with runners on base for a .533 batting average, and they stranded just seven baserunners all night
3.54 | All eight runs came off Nick Marshall, as LCU raised the Buff ace's earned run average by more than a run to 3.54
#5 | West Texas A&M came into the weekend ranked No. 5 nationally, making this LCU's first road win over an opponent ranked in the top 10 since May 19, 2016, when they took down No. 6 Colorado Mesa at Suplizio Field
 
NEXT UP
Lubbock Christian has once again won the series-opener and given themselves a chance to go for the series win Saturday as they meet the Buffs in a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m.