PORTALES, N.M. (April 29, 2023) – Playing in a pair of slugfests, Lubbock Christian lost 13-9 to Eastern New Mexico and won 19-9 in the two games of Saturday's doubleheader at Greyhound Baseball Field.
 
The Chaps are now 30-19 on the year and 28-19 in Lone Star Conference play. Because West Texas A&M won twice against Angelo State on Saturday, LCU will either need to win or for WT to lose on Sunday for the Chaps to maintain their No. 4 spot in the LSC standings.
 
GAME ONE
The Chaps actually had a lead early in the first game of the day, which they ended up losing 13-9.
 
In the top of the second, they sent seven batters to the plate and with two walks, a single, a double and a sacrifice fly, plated four runs. In the top of the third, Nate Van Maanen doubled to lead off and scored on a single from Ryan Ball, and Van Maanen drove in another run in the top of the fourth to put the Chaps up 6-0.
 
ENMU answered in the bottom of the fourth though, plating four runs, all with two outs. Then in the fifth, they sent 14 batters to the plate, chasing LCU starting pitcher Ryan Markwardt and reliever Josh Akers and score nine runs to go up 13-6.
 
Lubbock Christian bounced back by loading the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth, but they were only able to score a pair of runs. In the seventh and final inning they loaded the bases again with one out and plating one run, but it wasn't enough to push the game to extras.
 
GAME TWO
In the nightcap, it was LCU's turn to rally and win late.
 
The Chaps and Greyhounds both got the offense going early with three runs each in the first inning. ENMU took the second and added a solo shot in the third to lead 5-3.
 
LCU got a run in the fourth, but the Greyhounds answered with three to increase their lead to four runs.
 
In the fifth inning, the Chaps turned that four-run deficit into a two-run lead. The bases were loaded with one out when Hayden Blair came to the plate, and the outfielder came through with a double to left center. Jaxson Edwards followed with his own double, tying the game at 8-8. Brevin McCool's sacrifice fly gave LCU the lead, and one more run across on a wild pitch.
 
Eastern New Mexico got one run back in the bottom of the frame, but the Chaps continued to pour on with four more in the sixth. Chris Shull led off with a solo home run and Eduardo Acosta came through with a bases-loaded single to plate two more. Van Maanen drove in the final run of the frame with a single.
 
In the seventh, the Chaps broke the game open, scoring five more runs, all with two outs. Ogilvie and McCool had back-to-back doubles in the middle of the frame to score two, and Van Maanen drove in a pair with a two-out single.
 
Parker Rumsey came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and sat the Greyhounds down in order to secure the win. And, despite getting just one out to end the bottom of the fourth, sophomore Stoney Rhodes earned the win on the mound, notching the first win of his collegiate career. 
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
30 | This is the 17th season under head coach Nathan Blackwood that the Chaps have reached the 30-win mark
.524 | In the LCU win on Saturday, they were 11-21 with runners in scoring position for a .524 batting average, while ENMU was just 2-10
4.76 | Despite spending the first three years of his Chaparral baseball career as an outfielder, Parker Rumsey has served well when called upon to pitch this season. After Saturday's scoreless outing, his ERA is now 4.76 in 5.2 innings of work
 
NEXT UP
The Chaps will go for the series win on Sunday, taking on the Greyhounds in the final game of the regular season at 1 p.m. MT (2 p.m. CT) at Greyhound Baseball Field.