ODESSA, Texas (April 26, 2025) – Lubbock Christian stretched its win streak to seven games with a 6-3 win in the first game on Saturday, but saw it come to an end with a 10-6 loss in the late game against UT Permian Basin at Roden Field.
 
LCU's 1-1 record on the day brought them to 31-18 overall and 30-17 in Lone Star Conference play. They are now locked into the No. 4 seed for the league's postseason tournament, meaning they will host the No. 5 seed – either West Texas A&M or St. Mary's – next weekend at Hays Field.
 
GAME ONE
LCU got on the board quickly with a run in the first off UTPB starter Nolan LaChappa. Nicklaus Baumbach doubled down the right field line to drive in Jacob Gutierrez, who had singled.
 
Chap starting pitcher Ryan Markwardt made that single run stand up through the first three innings, working around a couple of hits and a walk. The Falcons finally broke through in the fourth with a single run to tie the game.
 
In the fifth, UTPB chased Markward from the game, scoring two runs to take the lead. Andrew Duran came on in relief with a pair of runners still on and got a fly out to end the threat.
 
Lubbock Christian answered right back in the top of the sixth, plating five runs all with two outs to retake the lead. Gutierrez got things going with a one-out single, scoring on a base hit from Johnny Gomez III. Brock Tijerina tied the game for the Chaps with a pinch-hit single, and Kade York gave them the lead with a bases-loaded single. One final run came in on an error.
 
Duran closed out the game by facing the minimum through the final two innings, inducing four ground outs, one fly out and striking out one. Earning the win in relief, he improved to 6-1 on the season.
 
GAME TWO
The Chaps scored first again in the second game, when they faced Nolan' younger brother Timmy LaChappa, scoring two in the second inning. UTPB answered right back with two of their own though.
 
In the top of the third, LCU loaded the bases with nobody out, but the younger LaChappa was able to work out of the jam with a foul out, a strikeout and a flyout to keep the game knotted up.  
 
LCU did briefly retake the lead in the fourth, but the Falcons answered again in the bottom of the inning and took their first lead at 4-3. They scored three more in the fifth to go up by five.
 
The Chaps got two runs back in the sixth but gave up three more in the bottom of the inning. LCU got one more run across in the seventh and loaded the bases with two outs, but a strikeout ended the game.
 
GAME NOTES
» Kade York went 4-for-6 in the two games combined with a pair of doubles.
» Lubbock Christian has surpassed the 30-win mark for the for the 18^th time in head coach Nathan Blackwood's tenure.
» Baumbach had a double in each game, bringing his season total to 19. He is tied for second-most in the Lone Star Conference.
» In game two of the doubleheader, the Chaps went 1-for-5 in bases loaded situations. The Falcons, meanwhile, went 1-for-2, and the one hit was a triple.
» LCU did not put their leadoff batter on in seven chances in game one of the doubleheader. They were 4-for-7 in leadoff chances in game two.