LUBBOCK, Texas (February 7, 2026) – Lubbock Christian University scored 22 runs and came back from down as many as 11 on Saturday, but fell to Sul Ross at Hays Field.
 
The Lobos (1-4 1-4) plated two runs in the top of the ninth and held the Chaps (1-4, 1-4) scoreless in the last frame to even up the series at a game apiece. LCU actually out-hit SRSU 21-20 but was done in by the free bases they allowed – including 16 walks.
 
Sul Ross jumped in front early with five runs in the top of the first, chasing Chap starting pitcher Kyle England from the game after he had gotten just two outs. LCU responded with a pair of their own runs in the bottom half of the inning, and ended the second down just a run, but the Lobo offense exploded in the third.
 
Three LCU pitchers saw the mound in the inning as SRSU plated eight runs, sending 14 batters to the plate in the frame. When the Chaps went down in order in the bottom of the inning and the Lobos added three more runs in the fourth, it seemed like they would run away with the game.
 
But Lubbock Christian responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth thanks to doubles from Kyle Lewis and Owen Alsup. The pair had strong days at the top of the Chap lineup, each collecting four hits. All four of Alsup's hits were doubles, tying both the LCU program and Lone Star Conference single-game record.
 
Chap reliever Will Cooper had finished out the fourth inning on the mound, allowing just one run in the frame before getting the final three outs. He was then able to settle things down for LCU on the mound by pitching a scoreless fifth, which featured two strikeouts, and a scoreless sixth.
 
Sul Ross finally got to him in the seventh and chased him from the mound. They plated five total runs in the frame and were up 11, bringing in the possibility of a mercy rule ending if they could keep LCU scoreless in the bottom of the inning.
 
Almost the exact opposite happened. Lubbock Christian sent 13 batters to the plate in the inning. Hudson Grace hit a two-run homer, Joe Mancinas, Aaron Morales and Jorge De Los Santos all had RBI singles, and Dylan Marx cleared the bases with a single and an error by the Lobo right fielder. When the seventh inning ended, LCU trailed 22-21.
 
The Chaps got a scoreless eighth from Isaiah Gonzalez and tied the game in the bottom of the inning, but stranded the bases loaded. Sul Ross used three two-out hits in the top of the ninth to score twice and LCU failed to score in the bottom of the inning.
 
GAME NOTES:

• Lubbock Christian pitchers combined to walk 16 batters, which was the most in a game since February 24, 2024 when they also walked 16 against Arkansas-Fort Smith
• Alsup joins Brevin McCool as the only two players in LCU program history to hit four doubles in one game. McCool did it on May 25, 2024
• The Chap offense notched nine doubles as a team, which is the most since they had 10 on May 18, 2024 against UT Permian Basin
• Jorge De Los Santos and Hudson Grace hit the first home runs of their Chaparral careers in the game. LCU's seven total this season are the fourth-most in the LSC
• Despite the loss, the Chaps hit a whopping .636 with runners on base and .571 with runners in scoring position

 
NEXT UP:
Lubbock Christian and Sul Ross will play the rubber game of the series at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Hays Field.