LUBBOCK, Texas (February 16, 2025) – Lubbock Christian gave up 11 runs in the first inning and still nearly pulled off a win in Sunday's series finale, falling 16-15 to Oklahoma Christian at Hays Field.  
 
Every starter for the Chaps (7-5, 7-5) had a hit, led by Jacob Gutierrez with four. He is the fourth different LCU player this year with a four-hit game.
 
Tate Thompson took the loss in his first start at Lubbock Christian. He was the first of five LCU pitchers. The final two hurlers were the best of the bunch for the Chaps, led by Kyler Carpenter, who closed out the game with three shutout innings. Cadon Everett also had a solid relief outing, allowing one run in three frames.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Thompson only recorded one out in the first inning before being removed from the game. He allowed four runs and was replaced by Karson Dunn with a runner on first. Dunn only got one out too, and eventually gave up five total runs. Duran came in to close out the inning.
 
Trailing 11-0, the Chaparrals first cut into the lead in the bottom of the first. Lubbock Christian's offense started clicking and put up four runs, including a two-run single off the bat of Gutierrez.
 
The Eagles expanded their lead to 13-4 with single runs in the second and third before the Chaparral offense got back to work, cutting into that lead in the third. Doubles by Brock Tijerina and Kyle Lewis and a swipe of home on a double steal brought the score to 13-7 in favor of the Eagles.
 
Oklahoma Christian added two more runs in the fourth and LCU got them back in the fifth.
 
The Eagles expanded their lead to 16-9 before the Lubbock Christian offense got back in gear, biting into that lead in the seventh. The Chaparrals scored four runs in the inning, highlighted by a two-run home run off the bat of Brevin McCool, bringing the score to 16-13.
 
Carpenter held the Eagles off the board in the eighth and ninth, giving them one final chance in the ninth. LCU took advantage of an OC error and plated two runs, one on a single from Gutierrez, but a ground ball double play ended the game.
 
 
GAME NOTES
» Lubbock Christian went a decent 5-for-16 (.313) with runners in scoring position, but OC hit 9-for-17 (.529).
» Carpenter's outing was his second of the season against the Eagles. He finished the weekend with five shutout innings of relief.
» McCool homered for a second time on the weekend, giving him nine this season. He leads the conference in that category by three.