LUBBOCK, Texas (March 28, 2026) – Lubbock Christian University dropped the first game of Saturday's doubleheader 6-2 but bounced back with a 6-3 win against St. Edward's, taking a 2-1 lead headed into Sunday's series finale.
 
The split moved the Chaparrals to 17-16, while the Hilltoppers are now 20-12 on the year.
 
GAME ONE
Connor Freeman and Karson Dunn matched each other with zeroes in the first two frames before the scoring got started in the top of the third. Connor Cox's RBI single scored Dylan Tate from second, followed by Nicodemus Ruedas driving in Ben Merriman with a single. A balk later allowed Cox to score, extending the lead to three runs.
 
In the bottom half, the Chaparrals responded as Johnny Gomez III walked and Dylan Marx powered a two-run homer to left field to close the gap. It was just the second homer of the year of the season from the Alaska native.
 
The game remained tightly contested with neither team scoring in the next three innings. LCU had only two baserunners in that time, and both of them were erased on double plays.
 
In the seventh, SEU was able to tack on some insurance. David Ripple's single and a subsequent walk to Boston Lee set the stage for Kade Nathman's RBI groundout. A fielding error during a sacrifice bunt allowed Lee to score, followed by a sacrifice bunt from Dylan Tate that brought home Trevor Sebek, making it a 6–2 game with just three outs left.
 
The Chaps were unable to mount a comeback, and the game concluded with the Hilltoppers securing the 6–2 victory.
 
Karson Dunn pitched five innings, scattering eight hits and allowing just three earned runs while striking out four batters, but the senior suffered the loss. He threw 84 pitches, 47 of which were strikes.
 
GAME TWO
The Chaps bounced back in game two right away. Aaron Rubio gave up a leadoff walk on the mound, but immediately erased the runner on a double play to hang an early zero.
 
Then in the bottom half of the inning, Hudson Grace reached base on catcher's interference and advanced on a single by Jorge De Los Santos. Carlos Mauldin's RBI single brought home Grace, giving the Chaps an early lead.
 
They added to that lead in the second inning, as Gomez doubled down the left field line, advancing to third on Tanner Pachorek's sacrifice bunt. Dylan Marx reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Gomez III to score after a throwing error. Kyle Lewis added an infield single, and De Los Santos drove in two more runs with a single to left field. The Chaps led 4-0 after two innings.
 
SEU responded in the third, using a doble and a pair of singles to plate their first run of the game, but Rubio got a strikeout and groundout to limit the damage. In the fifth inning, the Hilltoppers added another run with an RBI single by Dawson Stutz, bringing them within two.
 
Needing insurance runs late, Roe Forrest came through with a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the sixth. His team-leading eighth blast of the year cleared the wall in left center. Then the Chaps got a couple of one-out baserunners and Hudson Grace drove in another run to give LCU a 6-2 lead.
 
St. Edwards managed to score once in the seventh inning when Connor Cox hit a solo home run off LCU reliever Isaiah Gonzalez. Gonzalez walked a pair of batters with one out, leading the Chaps to bring in Andrew Dalconzo. The big righty struck out Trevor Sebek, walked a batter, and then induced a flyout to end the game.
 
Rubio pitched six innings, allowing just one earned run, and striking out five batters. He threw 92 pitches, 61 of which were strikes, and induced seven groundouts. He improved to 5-1 on the season. Dalconzo earned the save in relief, becoming the first LCU player with multiple this season.
 
GAME NOTES:

• Jorge De Los Santos had four hits in six at-bats on the day, driving in a pair of runs and reaching base at a .714 clip in the doubleheader
• With two more home runs on the day, Lubbock Christian maintained their Lone Star Conference lead with 38 this season
• The Chaps were out-hit .339 to .261, but performed better in the clutch than the Hilltoppers, hitting .308 with runners in scoring position to just .304
• Forrest is third in the conference in home runs with eight
• LCU turned three double plays on the day, giving them five this weekend and 28 on the season. That number is third-best in the league

 
NEXT UP
Lubbock Christian will look to win the series when they take on the Hilltoppers in the finale at.1 p.m. on Sunday at Hays Field.