LUBBOCK, Texas - Despite scoring six runs in the final two innings, LCU could not complete the comeback, falling to Cameron 8-7 in game one of their four game series on Friday, Feb. 3.

After a one-out double in the bottom of the first inning, Eduardo Acosta moved over to third on a sac fly by Chris Shull. An RBI-single from Nate Van Maanen brought home the first run of the season for the Chaparrals, and LCU (0-1, 0-1 LSC) took a 1-0 lead.

The Aggies (1-0, 1-0 LSC) answered with a leadoff double from Jayce Clem in the top of the second inning, before an RBI single from Drew Durst brought home the tying run for Cameron. Holden Tate tried to extend the inning for the Aggies, but was gunned out at second by Bo Hogeboom to end the frame.

Will Bradley reached all the way to third base for Cameron in the top of the third, and then came home to score thanks to an RBI single from Hunter Smith, and the Aggies took a 2-1 lead. Beau Williams extended that lead with authority, sneaking a ball over the outfield fence for a two-run home run, and the Cameron bulge swelled to 4-1.

Acosta looked to take over for the Chaps in the bottom of the third inning, starting the frame with a leadoff double. However, a wild pitch from Clayton McClenan hit the backstop and went directly into Bradley's glove. Bradley was able to toss the ball in time for McClenan, who tagged out Acosta at home to keep Cameron ahead. 

Both teams were quiet at the dish for a bit, before Lance Beret knocked a two-out single to left field in the top of the sixth. Durst hit a ball just over the head of Ryan Ball at second that rolled all the way to the wall, allowing Durst to jog into third and scoring another run for the Aggies. A wild pitch from Tyler Manyo brought in Durst, and Cameron took a 6-1 lead.

Smith started the top of the seventh with a leadoff double, before Williams hit his second home run of the afternoon, blasting one over the left centerfield fence, and pushing the Cameron advantage to 8-1.

The Chaps ended a streak of twelve straight batters retired in the bottom of the seventh, thanks to back-to-back hits from Jarred Gibson and Jacob Gutierrez. After a sac bunt by Hayden Blair moved the pair into scoring position, a double play ball got Gutierrez out at third and the Chaps ended the inning without any more runs.

Carson Ogilvie woke the bats back up for LCU in the bottom of the eighth with a leadoff triple, before coming in to score on a wild pitch by McClenan to cut the score to 8-2. Acosta reached on a single, before Chris Shull brought in a pair of runs for the Chaps with a two-RBI double, reaching third base after an error. Despite grounding into a double play, Gibson brought Shull home later in the inning, and Lubbock Christian trailed just 8-5 heading to the final frame. 

Blair started the bottom of the ninth drawing a walk, and Brevin McCool followed with a single. A Ball single loaded the bases, and another single by Acosta brought home two runs, and LCU trailed just 8-7. The bases were loaded again after Shull reached base on an error, but Van Maanen grounded out to the first baseman, who tossed the ball home before Bradley fired the ball to Evan Nichols who was covering first. After much discussion from the umpires, it was determined that Nichols had tagged base before Van Mannen reached the bag, ending the game on a double play and giving Cameron the 8-7 win. 

Despite the loss, Acosta led the Chaps battery, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, scoring a pair of runs and had two RBIs. Shull went just 1-for-5 in his first game as a Chap, but scored one run and also had a pair of RBIs.

Williams led the Aggies at the plate, going 2-for-5 with two home runs, scoring two runs, and had four RBIs. Durst went 3-for-4 in the contest, scoring a run and bringing home a pair.

McClenan (1-0) earned the win for the Aggies, going seven innings and allowing three runs off eight hits, striking out a pair and walking one. Nichols (1) earned the save for Cameron, allowing two runs off three hits in one inning of work, walking one batter and striking out another. Matthew Scott went one inning in relief, allowing two runs, one of those being earned, off two hits and walking one batter.

Aydan Alger (0-1) was handed the loss, going five innings, giving up four runs off six hits, walking one and striking out another. Manyo went just 0.2 of an inning in his college debut, allowing two runs off two hits, walking a pair and striking out one batter. Logan Ellis went 1.1 innings out of the pen, giving up two runs off four hits and striking out one. Connor Rowe was solid in his two innings of work, striking out a pair of batters and allowing zero hits.

The Chaps and Aggies meet for a pair of seven-inning games tomorrow, Feb. 4. Game one of the doubleheader begins at 1:00 PM. Fans can purchase tickets for the game at lcuchaps.com.