LUBBOCK, Texas (May 6, 2023) – It took extra innings once again, but Lubbock Christian University beat West Texas A&M 3-2 on Saturday at Hays Field, winning the best-of-three series to advance to the final site of the LSC Championship.
 
Chaparral shortstop Carson Ogilvie was the guy to score the game-winner for the second-straight day, as he led off with bottom of the 12^th with a double – his 28^th of the season. With him at second, Brevin McCool lifted a fly ball to right field. Ogilvie tagged, taking off for third when the ball was caught. The throw from the right fielder was strong, but bounced past a sliding Ogilvie. He popped up and raced home, diving in ahead of the throw.
 
The Chaps are now 33-19 on the year and have won nine out of their last 10 games, including six straight wins against West Texas A&M.
 
After yesterday's football score of a final, Saturday's contest was much more of a pitcher's duel. Ryan Markwardt got the start for LCU, facing off against Reese Miller, who pitched one inning in Friday night's game and took the loss.
 
Markwardt had some of his best stuff, scattering five hits across nine innings while striking out seven. He kept the Buffs hitless for the first three innings and off the scoreboard until the sixth, throwing more than 130 pitches in the outing.
 
The lefty was able to work with a lead for most of his outing, as Lubbock Christian got two runs in the bottom of the second. Jarred Gibson got things going with a single through the right side, and Chris Shull worked a one-out walk. Caden Hensley drove in the first run with a single up the middled, and Ogilvie's first double of the day plated Shull.
 
Miller settled in after that though, keeping the Chaps scoreless over the next five frames before giving way to the Buff bullpen. He was off the hook for the loss by the time he exited, because his offense tied the game up in the top of the seventh.


LCU had plenty of chances to walk it off before the 12^th frame. They got the leadoff man on in the ninth and again in the tenth, when they loaded the bases with no outs, but a lineout double play ended that threat.
 
A double play also ended the 11^th, when the Chaps had two on with one out, before Ogilvie finally scored to win it in the 12^th.
 
Shull was the winning pitcher for the second-straight day, moving to 4-1 on the year. He pitched three innings of scoreless relief with no walks and a pair of strikeouts.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
80.0 | With nine innings pitched on Saturday, Ryan Markwardt now has 80.0 for the season, which is the most by a Chap hurler since 2019, when Ryan Johnson and Chandler Casey both were over that mark
.500 | Despite only scoring three runs, LCU put a lot of pressure on WT, getting their leadoff batter on in six of the 12 frames
.519 | In the six games against West Texas A&M this season, Carson Ogilvie hit .519 with five doubles, two triples and a home run while reaching base at a .594 clip
 
NEXT UP
Advancing in the LSC Championship means the No. 4-seed Chaps get to take on the No. 1-seed Angelo State Rams. The game will be on Thursday at Foster Field at First Community Credit Union Stadium in San Angelo, Texas. A time for the game has not been set yet.