LUBBOCK, Texas (April 8, 2022) – It was an early lead for Eastern New Mexico, but Lubbock Christian University scored five runs in the middle third of the game to claim the series-opener on Friday night at Hays Field.
 
The Chaps (25-10, 23-10) allowed runs in the first inning for just the seventh time this season as the Greyhounds (14-19, 13-18) jumped on the board with two early runs, but LCU got to ENMU starter Noah De La Riva staring in the fourth and came back for the win.
 
All three first inning runs came with two outs, as Chaparral starter Tyler Hardwick induced two quick groundouts before four straight hits – including a double and a triple – to plate two runs. Hardwick finally got a strikeout of the seven hole hitter to end the frame.
 
LCU put two runners on themselves in the bottom of the first but struck out back-to-back times to end the frame scoreless. They were not able to score in the second or third either.
 
In the top of the fourth, a leadoff walk hurt Hardwick as the Greyhounds sacrificed the runner over and brought him around to score on a single from Braeton Matthews.
 
This time the Chaps answered though. With one out, Mason Donohoe drove a ball to center field that hit off the wall for a triple. Jarred Gibson then doubled on the first pitch he saw to drive him in. The Chaps had runners on second and third when the inning ended with them still trailing 3-1.
 
In the fifth, LCU was finally able to tie the game. Eduardo Acosta got things going with an infield single to lead off, but the next two batters were retired by De La Riva. Larry Leitha came through though, working the count full with two outs before getting a hanging breaking ball that he blasted over the wall in left center. Donohoe singled to follow, but the Chaps wouldn't score again in the frame.
 
It was another two-out rally to put the Chaps on top in the sixth. Cayde Ward started the offensive effort this time around, pinch-hitting and slapping a double to the wall in left center with one out. Grant Griffin pinch ran for Ward, and one out later Acosta singled score the go-ahead run. George Mendazona followed with a double to plate a Chap insurance run.
 
Koi Carrillo came out in the top of the seventh to take over on the mound for Hardwick and was excellent. The Lubbock native ended up closing out the game with three scoreless innings. He faced the minimum in his time on the mound, allowing one single in the eighth but erasing the runner on a double play. Three groundouts in the ninth earned the junior his first save of the season.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
12 | Larry Leitha's home run in the fifth was his 12^th of the season, which keeps him in the No. 1 spot in the Lone Star Conference
9-10 | Lubbock Christian has now won the series-opener in nine straight weekends. The only series-opener they did not win this season was on opening day against Arkansas-Fort Smith
27 | LCU turned two more double plays on the night and now has 27 for the season, which is the second-most of any LSC team
8-6 | This is the 14^th time this season a Lubbock Christian opponent has scored first and their eighth win in those contests
 
NEXT UP
The doubleheader portion of this weekend's series comes next, with the Chaps taking on the Greyhounds in a pair of seven-inning ballgames starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday.