CANYON, Texas - The Lubbock Christian University baseball team split a road double header against West Texas A&M Friday evening. The Chaps fell 5-1 in the opening game, but bounced back with a 8-2 victory in game two. 

GAME 1 | No. 5/13 West Texas A&M 5, No. 7/18 Lubbock Christian 1
Though they had plenty of opportunities, LCU struggled to cash them in, leaving 10 Chaparrals on base in a 5-1 loss in the series opener. 

Senior Ayden Alger (4-3) got the ball to start for LCU and took the loss. The left-hander tossed six innings, giving up five runs on eight hits, walking three, and striking out five. 

Offensively, the Chaps were paced by senior Hayden Blair, who reached base safely in all three of his plate appearances, going 1-for-1 on the day with two walks and an RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Chaps got on the scoreboard first, starting in the second inning. LCU got an RBI single from Blair, scoring junior Brevin McCool from second base. 

The Buffs plated three runs in the third on a pair of doubles off the bats of Ryan Camacho and Dylan Fesperman to take a 3-1 lead.

The Buffs score two more runs in the game to capture a 5-1 win. 

GAME NOTES

• LCU left 10 runners stranded on base in the loss, compared to the Buffs five runners left stranded. 
• Alger faced 28 West Texas A&M hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and four fly balls while striking out five.
• West Texas A&M was led offensively by Fesperman, who went 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBI.
• Senior Reese Miller led the Buffaloes pitching staff, throwing six innings of one-run ball.

GAME 2 | No. 7/18 Lubbock Christian 8, No. 5/13 West Texas A&M 2
Senior Carson Ogilvie collected four RBIs to help lead LCU to a 8-2 victory to even the series at a game a piece. 

Junior Ryan Markwardt (8-1) started on the mound and picked up the win for LCU. The left-hander went six innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on five hits, allowing three walks and striking out six. Senior Logan Ellis also made an impact on the mound for the Chaps, throwing one scoreless inning while allowing no hits, with no walks and two strikeouts.

Ogilvie went 3-for-5 with a triple and a home run in addition to his four RBIs for the Chaps. Junior Brevin McCool put together a standout performance at the dish as well, going 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. Senior Hayden Blair also contributed for LCU, putting together three hits in four trips to the plate while adding a double.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Chaps got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Ogilvie put Lubbock Christian on the board with a leadoff home run off senior Justice Hayes.

The Chaps then held the Buffaloes scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. The LCU offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a three-run triple off the bat of Ogilvie, which brought the score to 5-0 in favor of the Chaparrals.

West Texas A&M narrowed LCU's lead to 5-2 before the Chaparrals stretched the advantage to 7-2 in the fourth inning. The Chapas scored two runs when a single from senior Jarred Gibson brought home junior Frayner Chaves and Ogilvie.

LCU held the Buffaloes without a run before their offense got things rolling the next inning. The Chaps scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Chaves, bringing the LCU advantage to 8-2. The score remained 8-2 for the rest of the game, as the Chaps coasted to the win.

GAME NOTES

• LCU's highest scoring inning was the second, when it pushed four runs across.
• Four Chaps had multiple hits in the ballgame, as Ogilvie, Blair, McCool, and Ball recorded two or more base knocks. 
• The Chaps out-hit the Buffaloes at a 12-5 clip.
• LCU pitchers limited West Texas A&M to just 2-for-10 (.200) with runners in scoring position.
• West Texas A&M was led offensively by senior Dylan Fesperman, who went 1-for-3 with two RBI.
• Senior Gavin Pringle led the Buffaloes pitching staff, throwing three innings of one-run ball.

UP NEXT
Game three of the series between the Chaps and Buffs will take place tomorrow (Apr. 20). First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. from Wilder Park.