LUBBOCK, Texas (March 10, 2025) – In a game that featured a combined 35 runs and 12 home runs, Lubbock Christian came out on top, walking off No. 2 Angelo State again by a score of 18-17 to win the series three games to one.
Kade York was the hero for the Chaparrals (13-9, 12-8 LSC), driving a single to straightaway center field with one out in the ninth that drove in
Carson Shields to score the game-winning run.
In a game that featured gawdy offensive numbers up and down both lineups, LCU infielder
Brevin McCool still stood out, clubbing four home runs in his five trips to the plate. The four homers set a new Lone Star Conference record. It tied the LCU program record, set by Wigberto Nevarez on March 28, 2013, when he hit four against St. Gregory's.
It is also the first time this season a Division II players has homered four times in a game. The last D-II player to do it was San Francisco State's Justin Johnson, who had four on May 3, 2024.
His second home run was the most prolific, clearing the netting behind the left field wall and shattering a second story window at Gullo Hall. The dorm is 459 feet away from home plate.
McCool has now retaken the D-II lead for home runs this season with 16. He has surpassed his 2024 total of 14 and has 47 in his Lubbock Christian career. With one more home run, we will crack the top 10 in LCU program history.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first inning set the tone for the next eight with the team's for combining for five runs. LCU scored four of them, including McCool's first homer along with a bases-loaded double from
Kyle Lewis.
ASU scored once in the second and see-sawed back in front in the top of the third, getting a couple of home runs themselves and scoring six total to lead 8-4. The Chaps immediately answered with five runs in the bottom of the frame.
Shea Bowen's first home run of the game tied the game, and to the lead on McCool's destruction of school property.
Both teams went scoreless in the fourth, but McCool was up again in the fifth. He homered to left field again. And then
Jacob Gutierrez homered to right center. And then
Brock Tijerina homered to center field. It is the first time the Chaps have hit back-to-back-to-back homers since May 25, 2024, when Nate van Maanen,
Chris Shull and
Jarred Gibson did it (also against Angelo State).
Gutierrez drove in another run with a single in the sixth, giving LCU it's largest lead of the game at 13-8. Then it was the Rams' turn to come back, getting a two-run homer from Brett Smajstirla and a grand slam from Ethan Flodstrom, which put ASU a head by a run.
Bowen responded with a two-run blast again in the eighth to put the Chaps back on top, and McCool's fourth home run gave LCU a two-run lead heading to the ninth.
ASU quickly tied it up and took a two-run lead before
Tate Thompson came on in relief and struck out three Rams to get out of a bases-loaded jam.
In the bottom of the ninth,
Brock Tijerina came through in the clutch for a third-straight game, slapping a single to left field. Then
Johnny Gomez III doubled to left center and Tijerina raced around the bases, just getting a hand in ahead of the tag to score the tying run. Shields pinch ran and advanced to third on a groundout, scoring the winning run on the hit from York.
GAME NOTES
» McCool also tied Nevarez's single-game record for total bases with 16.
» LCU's eight home runs were their most in a single game since May 8, 2021, when they also had eight against OC. They were one shy of matching the program record of nine, set against Wayland Baptist in 2013.
» The Chaps collected 21 hits overall, batting .488 in the game, including .500 with runners in scoring position.
» With 47 career home runs,
Brevin McCool is now the active leader among Division II players.
» McCool was also intentionally walked once and was robbed of a single on a diving grab of a liner by ASU shortstop Justin Harris. His batting average rose to .466 for the season.
