LUBBOCK, Texas (April 6, 2025) – Lubbock Christian split Sunday's doubleheader against West Texas A&M at Hays Field, winning 5-1 before losing 16-6 at Hays Field.
 
The win came on the strength of Ryan Markwardt's starting pitching performance, as the left-hander win six shutout innings and struck out eight.
 
In the nightcap, the game was back and forth until the top of the sixth when WT broke things open with eight two-out runs.
 
LCU is now 23-14 on the season and 22-13 in Lone Star Conference play. They sit a game behind the Buffs in the league standings.
 
GAME ONE RECAP
The Chaparrals got on the scoreboard first, starting in the second inning. Senior Frayner Chavez's run-scoring single highlighted a two-run inning for Lubbock Christian.
 
The Chaparrals then held the Buffaloes scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Junior Brock Tijerina came across to score the lone run of the inning for Lubbock Christian, which brought the Chaparrals lead to 3-0.
 
LCU built their lead to 5-0 the following inning. The Chaparrals scored twice, with one run coming across on senior Nicklaus Baumbach's single.
 
Cadon Everett was sent to the mound for the top of the seventh and got the first two outs, but gave up a run and loaded the bases. Tyler Manyo was called upon and got a strikeout and end the save, also earning the save in the process.
 
GAME TWO RECAP
The Chaparrals were trailing 2-0 in the first inning when they first put runs on the board. Lubbock Christian scored two in the frame, highlighted by an RBI triple off the bat of junior Jacob Gutierrez.
 
The Buffaloes then scored one run to retake their advantage heading into the second inning, when the Chaparrals responded by getting back on the scoreboard themselves. LCU scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-run single off the bat of Gutierrez, which brought the Chaparrals lead to 5-3.
 
WT see-sawed back in front for good in the top of the third with four runs, going up 7-4. With reliever Nathan Scott now on the mound, the Buffs kept the Chaps scoreless for the next four frames.
 
Chaparral reliever Tate Thompson matched Scott in the fourth and fifth innings and seemed on his way to another scoreless frame in the sixth after two quick outs, but the Buff offense exploded for eight runs, giving them a 15-5 lead. They added one more in the seventh to counteract Brevin McCool's solo shot in the bottom of the frame, winning by 10.
 
GAME NOTES
» Markwardt's eight strikeouts in the first game of the doubleheader are his most since Feb. 22, when he struck out 10 against St. Mary's.
» The Buffs were 10-16 (.625) with eight RBI with two outs in the nightcap.
» McCool's home run was his 22^nd of the season and the 52^nd of his career. He is now tied for seventh all-time in LCU history with Bob Fannin, who also hit 52.
» Manyo's save in the first game is the fifth of his Chaparral career. The other four all came in the 2024 season.
» Chavez swiped three bases in the first game of the doubleheader, marking the first time an LCU player has done so this seaon. The last time a Chap player stole three bases in a game was April 27, 2024, when Carson Ogilvie did so against Eastern New Mexico.
» Nick Blevins made his first collegiate appearance in the seventh inning of game two.