LUBBOCK, Texas (March 27, 2021) — Lubbock Christian University walked off St. Edwards University 2–1 in a tense extra-inning matchup on Friday at Hays Field. 

After trailing with an early run by St. Edwards in the first inning, the Chaparrals tied the game in the seventh inning before securing the victory with a decisive run in the 10th inning. LCU's pitching staff delivered a strong performance, allowing just four hits over 10 innings while striking out 10.

The Chaps improved to 16-15 with the win while the Hilltoppers fell to 19-11. 

St. Edwards got on the board early with a run in the first inning, despite not recording a hit. Ben Merriman scored after David Ripple grounded out, giving SEU the early lead. 

Lubbock Christian starter Dakota McCaskill settled in after the first though and proceeded to shut the visiting Hilltoppers out for the next four frames with just two hits allowed and four strikeouts. 

LCU had chances to tie the game or take the lead a number of times while McCaskill was still on the mound. Dylan Marx lined out with the bases loaded in the second, and there were runners at the corners in the third when Owen Alsup popped out. 

The Chaparrals finally tied the game in the seventh inning. Saadiq McCain, who entered as a pinch runner after a one-out walk from Johnny Gomez III, scored on Jorge De Los Santos' RBI single to shallow left field.

The bases were still loaded with just one out for Carlos Mauldin, but he lined into a double play to keep the game tied. 

SEU got a leadoff single in the top of the 10th and moved the runner into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, but Kyle England got a groundout and Isaiah Gonzalez induced another to end the threat and set up LCU's walkoff win. 

Mauldin singled to lead off and was replaced by pinch runner Aaron Morales, who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and took third on a wild pitch. With runners at the corners, Hudson Grace hit a chopper on the infield that he beat out for a hit, and when first baseman Connor Cox rushed the throw wide of the bag, Morales came home to score the winning run.

Kyle England delivered a strong performance in relief, pitching 4.2 innings with only two hits allowed, no runs and only an intentional walk. His first time through the order, he struck out six of the nine batters he faced. Despite facing just one batter, Gonzalez ended up as the winning pitcher, improving to 2-1 on the year.

GAME NOTES:
- The Chaps are now 1-1 in extra-inning games this season. It is exactly five years to the day since the last time LCU and SEU played into extras, with the Chaps winning the March 27, 2021 game 10-9 on an 11th inning double from Edgar Hernandez. There were 26 meetings of the two teams between the two extra-inning affairs.
- LCU's pitchers combined to shut out SEU for nine straight innings. McCaskill, England, and Gonzalez held the Hilltoppers 0-for-14 with runners on base.
- The 10 strikeouts combined from the Chaparral pitching staff is tied for their second-most in a game this season.
- De Los Santos went 3-for-5, extending his hitting streak to 12 games.
- Grace also had three hits, recording his team-leading fifth three-hit game of the season.
- LCU matched their season-high with three double plays turned. They also turned three in the Feb. 12 game at Oklahoma Christian. 

NEXT UP:
Lubbock Christian will look to keep its momentum as they take on St. Edward's in a doubleheader at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hays Field.