SAN ANTONIO, Texas  - LCU hit four total home runs across two games and scored nine straight runs in game two to split Saturday's doubleheader against St. Mary's on Saturday, Mar. 11. 

GAME ONE - St. Mary's 7, Lubbock Christian 4 

St. Mary's scored five runs in the final two innings to come-from-behind and knock off Lubbock Christian 7-4 on Saturday, Mar. 11.

Nate Van Maanen opened the scoring with authority for the Chaparrals (14-8, 14-8 LSC), as his three-run home run gave LCU an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Rattlers (9-10, 8-10 LSC) answered in the bottom of the third inning, as a Ryan McGowen two-RBI double lowered the Chap lead to 3-2. 

The long ball once again came through for Lubbock Christian in the top of the fourth, as this time it was Jarred Gibson smacking one over the left field fence, and giving LCU a 4-2 advantage. St. Mary's tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, as an error allowed Jacob Elizondo to score, before an RBI double from Easton Parrish knotted the game all up at four runs apiece. 

Chris Shull recorded the lone hit of the game for LCU that was not a home run in the top of the sixth, but the Chaps could not score. The Rattlers took advantage in the bottom half of the sixth, as a McGowan bunt single scored Jorge Cuevas to give St. Mary's a 5-4 lead. A wild pitch with the bases loaded added another run for the Snakes, and a sac fly from Clay Bradford brought home Elizondo to give St. Mary's a 7-4 lead heading into the seventh inning. The Chaps would go down in order in the top of the seventh, and St. Mary's completed the comeback, winning the opening game of the doubleheader 7-4.

In a notable stat, the 4-5-6 spots of the batting order recorded the only hits of the game for Lubbock Christian. Eduardo Acosta went 0-for-3, ending his 35-game, reached base safely streak, tied for the third-longest in program history. McGowan led the Rattlers at the plate, going 2-for-2 with three RBI, while Elizondo went 2-for-2 with two runs.

Bradford (3-1) earned the win, going six innings, allowing four runs off three hits, walking two and striking out three. Andrew Girod earned his first save, closing the game and facing just two batters to end the day.

Ryan Markwardt (3-2) was handed the loss, going 5.1 innings, allowing seven runs, five of those being earned, off 10 hits, walking one and striking out three. Josh Akers closed out the game, going 0.2 innings, allowing one hit and walking one batter. 

GAME TWO - Lubbock Christian 12, St. Mary's 3

After the Rattlers tied the game, LCU scored nine unanswered runs to pull away for the 12-3 victory over St. Mary's in game two of their doubleheader on Saturday, Mar. 11. 

For the second straight game, Nate Van Maanen hit a home run in the top of the first inning, this time a two-run blast to give LCU (15-8, 15-8 LSC) a 2-0 advantage early. Clay Bradford responded with a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the first inning, cutting the lead in half to 2-1.

Caden Hensley grounded into a double play with the bases loaded in the top of the second, but since no one was out before the play, Ryan Ball scored and added a run to put the Chaps up 3-1. St. Mary's (9-11, 8-11 LSC) tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, as a Jacob Elizondo two-RBI double put the two foes all square at three runs apiece.

Chris Shull started the run for the Chaps in the top of the fifth, as his RBI double scored Carson Ogilvie to give LCU the lead back and go up 4-3. Brevin McCool blew the game wide open later in the inning with a three-run home run to left field, as LCU pulled away to go on top 7-3.

The scoring continued in the top of the sixth, with Shull picking up another RBI, this time with a single to score Hayden Blair. The Chaps then drew three walks with the bases loaded, as Van Maanen, Eduardo Acosta and Ball earned free passes and brought home teammates to swell the bulge to 11-3. Acosta would later come in to score to make it 12-3 after a wild pitch. The Rattlers loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but a double play ended the game and Lubbock Christian took game two of the doubleheader 12-3. 

Shull led the Chaps at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Both McCool and Van Maanen went 1-for-3, but they both had home runs, both had three RBI, and both scored a run. Jacob King led the Rattlers, going 2-for-2 with a run scored.

Andrew Duran (4-1) earned the win, going five innings, allowing three runs off five hits, walking two and striking out five. Koi Carillo went one inning in relief, allowing zero hits and zero runs. Colton Brown closed out the game, allowing one hit and walking two batters in one inning of work.

John Curtis (1-1) was handed the loss, giving up six runs off six hits in four innings of work, walking four batters and striking out two. 

The Chaps and Rattlers close out their four-game series on Sunday, Mar. 12. First pitch is set for 1:00 PM from San Antonio.