LAREDO, Texas (March 31, 2023) – Up three runs heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Lubbock Christian came about as close as possible to letting the Texas A&M International walk the game off or at least force extras, but clutch pitching from Koi Carrillo let the Chaps walk away with an 8-7 win in Friday's series-opener.
 
Freshman Tyler Manyo was on the mound to start the bottom of the final inning, back out for his third inning of work after allowing just one hit through the seventh and eighth frames. A walk, a wild pitch and a double allowed the Dustdevils to pull within two, and another walk forced head coach Nathan Blackwood to call Carrillo out of the bullpen. Carrillo hit a batter and walked one, loading the bases with no outs and the Chaps clinging to a one-run lead.
 
The side-armer promptly struck each of the next three batters out, all swinging, to secure the game and his first save of the 2023 season.
 
All eight of the Chaparral runs came in the final four frames, as they were forced to come from behind against the host Dustdevils. In fact, for the first 5.2 innings of the game, TAMIU hurler Cody Templeton held LCU without a hit and allowed just three total baserunners.
 
By the time Carson Ogilvie broke up the no-hitter with a double in the top of the sixth, Lubbock Christian trailed 3-0. Following the shortstop's hit though, Brevin McCool walked and Eduardo Acosta clobbered a three-run homer to tie the game.
 
The Dustdevils pulled back in front briefly in the bottom of the sixth with a double and a pair of singles off reliever Josh Akers, but the Chaps pulled in front for good in the seventh, giving the lefty his fourth win of the season.
 
Chris Shull walked to start LCU's second rally, and one-out singles from Ryan Ball and Hayden Blair tied the game at four. Caden Hensley followed with a bunt that got Blair home with an out, and an Ogilvie single scored Hensley to make the score 6-4.
 
Lubbock Christian added two final runs in the top of the eighth, as Jarred Gibson slapped a one out double and Ball followed with his third homer of the season. The two-run shot proved important, as the Chaps held onto win in the bottom of the ninth.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
.556 | Despite no hits through the first 5.2 innings and a .250 team batting average in the game, LCU was 5-9 for a .556 batting average with runners in scoring position
5 | Carrillo's save was the fifth of his five-year LCU career. He had two in both the 2020 and 2022 seasons
.285 | The Chaps were 5-25 against TAMIU left-handed pitchers, dropping their season average to .285 against southpaws. Comparatively, they bat better than .350 against righties
 
NEXT UP
The Chaps will have a chance to go ahead and win the series on Saturday, as they take on Texas A&M International for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.