LUBBOCK, Texas (April 24, 2026) — Lubbock Christian University dropped the series opener against UT Permian Basin on Friday 8-6 in a back-and-forth battle at Hays Field. 

The Chaparrals fell behind early but had a lead going into the fifth inning when the Falcons plated five runs to pull ahead and win the game. Lubbock Christian saw their seven-game in streak snapped as they fell to 28-19. UT Permian Basin improved to 14-33, winning on the road for the first time since March 8.

UTPB had a lead in the game almost before fans were in their seats as the first three Falcon batters recorded hits. Carlos Chavez homered later in the frame, and the visiting team was up 3-0 before the Chaps came to bat. 

LCU answered quickly, plating a pair of their own runs in the bottom half. They sent eight men to the plate and scored on a Ryan Gargett single, but stranded the bases loaded, still trailing by a run. 

The two starting pitcher settled in after an eventful first, both hanging zeroes in the second and third with UTPB still clinging to a one-run lead. In the fourth inning, Tanner Pachorek hit a two-run homer to left field, scoring Carlos Mauldin and putting the Chaparrals ahead 4–3 by the end of the inning. It is the second homer of the season for Pachorek, who hit his first just last week against Cameron. 

The fifth inning saw further scoring for the home team as Mauldin singled up the middle, allowing Owen Alsup and Freddie Nolen to score. This extended the Chaps' lead to 6–3, but would be their final runs of the night. 

In the seventh inning, the Falcons mounted a comeback. Chavez walked, and Joshua Estrada singled to the left side, scoring Chavez. Braeden Dyck followed with a single to center, driving in Estrada. A double by Daylon Jefcoats added two more runs, and an RBI double from Alden Quintanilla capped the five-run rally, giving UTPB an 8–6 lead.

The Chaparrals got a runner to third in the eighth and put two on in the ninth with two outs but were unable to close the gap. 

Karson Dunn started on the mound for the Chaps, delivering 6 1/3 innings while allowing seven hits and six earned runs, with one walk and one strikeout. Isaiah Gonzalez entered in relief, pitching 2 2/3 innings, giving up two hits and two earned runs, while striking out three batters without issuing a walk.

GAME NOTES: 
- Pachorek's home run is the 51st of the year by a Chaparral, which is the most in the Lone Star Conference
- Mauldin had the only multi-hit performance of the game for the Chaps, which was his seventh of the season
- LCU hit just .200 (3-for-15) with runners on base in the game, compared to a .545 average (6-for-11) for the Falcons. LCU left eight runners on base
- Alsup had a hit and two walks, extending his reached-base streak to 13 games. It is the longest active streak on the team
- LCU put their leadoff batter on only twice in nine chances

NEXT UP: 
Lubbock Christian and UT Permian Basin will meet twice on Saturday, with first pitch for the opening game of the last doubleheader of the year set for 2 p.m.