SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Lubbock Christian rallied from down as many as eight runs, but the comeback bid was snuffed out by St. Mary's, giving the Rattlers a 15-11 win over the Chaps on Sunday, Mar. 12.

The Chaps (15-9, 15-9 LSC) took the first lead of the day in the top of the third inning, as a sac fly from Eduardo Acosta scored Carson Ogilvie to give LCU a 1-0 advantage. The Rattlers (10-11, 9-11 LSC) took the lead for the first time in the bottom of the third, as a Jacob King RBI triple scored Ryan McGowen to tie the game at one. A two-run home run by Brandon Broughton gave St. Mary's a 3-1 advantage after the third inning.

Lubbock Christian got one of those runs back in the top of the fourth, as Jarred Gibson scored on a wild pitch to cut the Snake lead down to 3-2. A pair of doubles from Jake Mares and King scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth for St. Mary's, before a wild pitch brought King home to swell the Rattler advantage to 6-1.

The Rattlers added two more in the bottom of the fifth, as a Jacob Elizondo two-RBI single pushed the home squad's lead to 8-2. King picked up two more RBI later in the frame with two runs scoring off a single of his own, and St. Mary's pulled ahead 10-2.

LCU finally got back on the board in the top of the sixth, as a fielding error allowed Chris Shull and Ogilvie to score, cutting the lead to 10-4. Ryan Ball doubled later in the frame to score Nate Van Maanen, and the Rattler advantage was cut in half to 10-5. A fielding error from the Rattlers scored Brevin McCool, and a Caden Hensley RBI single brought home Ball, and the Chaps found themselves down just 10-7.

St. Mary's would quell the comeback in the bottom of the sixth, as a Rudy Solis doubled to left center to get a run back for the Rattlers to go ahead 11-7. A bunt single from Elizondo scored another run, before a two-run home run from Mares gave the Snakes their fourth run of the inning, and St. Mary's went ahead 14-7.

The Chaparrals picked up another big inning in the top of the eighth, as an Ogilvie RBI single scored Gibson, and then a balk by the Rattlers brought home Jesse Benavidez to cut the St. Mary's lead to 14-9. A sac fly from Shull scored Sam Shank to give Lubbock Christian their tenth run of the game, and another error by St. Mary's scored Ogilvie to cut the Rattler lead to 14-11.

The Rattlers added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth with a Mares single, putting St. Mary's up 15-11. The Chaps went down in order in the top of the ninth, as St. Mary's held on to win the game and split the series.

Mares led the Rattlers, going 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs, while King went 3-for-6 with four RBU and two runs scored. Elizondo also went 3-for-5 with three runs and three RBI.

For the Chaps, Ogilvie went 3-for 5 with an RBI and three runs, while both Van Maanen and McCool went 3-for-6 with an RBI and a run score.

Kaleb Gauna (1-2) earned the win for the Rattlers, going 2.1 innings, allowing five runs off four hits, walking two and striking out two more. Andrew Girod earned the save (2), going 3.1 innings, allowing four runs off five hits, walking two and striking out one.

Marcos Escalera (1-2) was handed the loss, giving up five runs off six hits in 3.1 innings of work, striking out four and walking one batter. Tyler Manyo went one inning in relief, allowing four runs off three hits, walking one batter. Koi Carillo faced four batters, giving up one run off two hits and walking two batters. Logan Ellis went 1.2 innings out of the pen, allowing four runs off three hits and walking one batter. Josh Akers faced one batter and got him to ground out, while Chris Rhoades closed the game, going 1.2 innings, giving up one run off two hits, walking two and striking out one.

The Chaps will now have a bye week as scheduled by the Lone Star Conference, returning to the field on Monday, Mar. 20 for a nonconference home game against University of the Southwest at Hays Field. First pitch is set for 6:00 PM. Fans can purchase tickets at lcuchaps.com.