LAREDO, Texas (April 1, 2023) – Ryan Markwardt pitched a gem in game one to clinch at least a split for Lubbock Christian University in the series against Texas A&M International, but the Chaps fell in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader and will need a win on Sunday to win the series.
 
GAME ONE
It took just 76 pitches for Ryan Markwardt to beat the Dustdevils 1-0 in the top half of the doubleheader, as the left-hander tossed a complete-game shutout with just four hits allowed and three strikeouts. Only once did a Dustdevil baserunner even make to third base.
 
The complete game was the first of Markwardt's Chaparral career, but it was the second shutout he has been a part of this season. He did the lion's share of the work on Feb. 24, when LCU shut out Arkansas-Fort Smith, tossing six scoreless innings with just two hits allowed.
 
Jarred Gibson helped Markwardt out from behind the dish whenever he was given the chance, gunning down runners trying to steal second in both the first and fifth inning.
 
It wasn't until the sixth inning, however, that Markwardt was able to pitch with the lead, as TAMIU starter Lalo Salinas matched the Chap hurler inning for inning.
 
Finally, in the top of the sixth inning, Caden Hensley sparked the Lubbock Christian offense with a leadoff single. LCU then went into small-ball mode, as Carson Ogilvie sacrifice bunted him over to second. Brevin McCool followed with another single, and Eduardo Acosta hit a sacrifice fly to left to score what proved to be the winning run.
 
GAME TWO
There was much more offense in the second game of the day, but it didn't end in the Chaps favor, as the Dustdevils came back to win 5-3.
 
All of the scoring by both teams was done in just two innings – the third and the fifth.
 
LCU got on the board first, loading the bases with no outs and pushing across a run when Acosta was hit by a pitch, but back-to-back strikeouts and a groundout got TAMIU out of the inning without any further damage. The Dustdevils got the run back with a leadoff double and a one-out single in the bottom of the frame.
 
The Chaps got back on top in the top of the fifth thanks to solo shots from McCool and Nate Van Maanen. McCool's home run was his sixth of the season, and Van Maanen's was his seventh, tying him for the team lead.
 
Texas A&M International matched the Chaps, though, with two homers of their own, and one of theirs was a two-run shot. The Dustdevils added one final run on a single for the final score of 5-3.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
1 | Lubbock Christian's last 1-0 win was March 29, 2018, when Ricky Contreras tossed his own seven inning complete-game shutout against Newman
37 | The Chaps have added three home runs to their season total this weekend, giving them 37 for the year, which is the third-most in the Lone Star Conference
4 | Markwardt's shutout was LCU's fourth of the season, tying them for the second-most in the conference. Only Angelo State has more with five
 
NEXT UP
Lubbock Christian will play Texas A&M International at 1 p.m. Sunday in the series finale, needing a win over the Dustdevils to clinch their fourth series win of the season.