CANYON, Texas (April 3, 2026) – Lubbock Christian University bounced back from a series-opening loss in a big way on Saturday, taking both ends of Saturday's doubleheader against West Texas A&M.
 
The Chaps scored two late runs in the first game of the day to win 7-5 in a complete game from Karson Dunn, and Aaron Rubio tossed his own complete game in the nightcap, shutting out the Buffs for a 6-0 victory.
 
LCU improves to 20-17 on the season while WT falls to 23-14.
 
GAME ONE
The Chaps got on the board first, plating three runs in the second Ryan Gargett singled up the middle to start the rally, and Owen Alsup doubled to left field, to drive him in. Freddie Nolen then doubled down the right-field line, scoring Alsup. Roe Forrest's single to center, combined with a fielding error, allowed Nolen to score, ending the inning with the Chaps leading 3–0.
 
The fourth inning saw Lubbock Christian extend their lead. Carlos Mauldin's single scored Nolen, who had reached on a fielder's choice, and Dylan Marx followed with an RBI single, bringing Forrest home. The score was 5–0 in favor of the Chaps.
 
WT responded in a controversial fifth inning, tying the game with five runs. A single and a double with one out got the Buff rally going, and they scored a run on a sacrifice fly. Then a walk loaded the bases. Police hit a ball down the left field line that seemed to be well foul, but was called fair by the home plate umpire.
 
The grand slam tied the game, but Dunn bounced back to strike out the next batter and keep the game tied.
 
LCU's offense immediately picked Dunn up, retaking the lead in the top of the sixth. Forrest singled to start a two-out rally, followed by Mauldin's ground-rule double. Marx walked, loading the bases. Kyle Lewis delivered the game-winning hit with a two-RBI single to left center, scoring Forrest and Mauldin, putting the Chaps ahead 7–5.
 
Dunn sat the Buffs down in order in both the sixth and seventh to close out the complete game win. The righty struck out four batters while issuing just one walk, demonstrating control over his 89 pitches with 53 strikes.
 
GAME TWO
Lubbock Christian took an early lead against WT again in the second game, capitalizing on a fielding error in the first inning. Hudson Grace scored the unearned run after reaching on a fielder's choice and advancing on a wild pitch and a stolen base.
 
Working with the early lead, Rubio sat down the Buffs in order in the first as he went to work on his shutout. He allowed the first WT hit of the game in the second, but worked around it and hung a zero again in the third.
 
In the fourth inning, the Chaps extended their lead significantly. Gargett reached on an error and scored on Owen Alsup's advancement on another error. Nolen and Alsup scored on a two-RBI triple by Roe Forrest, who later scored on a sacrifice fly by Dylan Marx.
 
Forrest continued his offensive contribution in the sixth inning with a solo home run to right field, increasing the Chaparrals' advantage to 6-0. The Chaps loaded the bases after the homer, but a double play and a strikeout kept them from extending the lead any further.
 
They ended up not needing any more runs though, as Rubio tossed two more goose eggs to close out the game. He allowed just four hits and issued one walk while striking out four batters. Rubio threw 85 pitches, with 66 of those being strikes.
 
GAME NOTES:

• Forrest had a huge day at the plate, going 5-for-7 in the two games combined with a home run and a triple
• The four errors committed by the Buffs in the second game is tied for the most by a Chap opponent this season. UT Tyler also committed four errors against LCU on Jan. 31
• Rubio's seven shutout innings lowered his season ERA to 3.04, which is the second-lowest in the Lone Star Conference
• Dunn and Rubio limited the Buffs to a .158 batting average (3-for-19) on the day with runners on base
• Forrest's homer was the 44^th of the season by the Chaps, keeping then in the Lone Star Conference lead

 
NEXT UP:
Lubbock Christian will try for the win in the series on Saturday when they take on the Buffs at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Wilder Park.