Lubbock Christian University Athletics

GRAND JUNCTION, Colorado (May 14, 2026) – The 2026 Lubbock Christian University season came to an end on Thursday as the Chaps fell to No. 22 St. Mary's 6-2 and No. 1 Colorado Mesa 15-12 in the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament.
 
The Chaps finish the season with a 34-23 overall record.
 
GAME ONE
It was a pitcher's duel early, as Bryce Nall and Brandon Vasquez matched each other zero for zero through the first four frames. Nall left the game after recording an out after giving up a pair of runs.
 
The Chaps got one of those back in the top of the sixth. Owen Alsup singled to left field and later scored on Chase Ditmar's sacrifice fly, narrowing the gap to 2–1, but LCU left a pair of runners on.
 
The seventh inning saw the Chaps adding another run. Hudson Grace singled and advanced to third on a hit by Jorge De Los Santos. Grace then scored as Carlos Mauldin was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score the tying run, but LCU could do no further damage.
 
StMU took control in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring four runs. The Rattlers plated four run in the frame on four hits and were helped by a Chaparral error.
 
LCU went down in order in the eighth and ninth to force them into the night game against the host and No. 1 seed Colorado Mesa.
 
GAME TWO
Lubbock Christian jumped out big in the nightcap, chasing RMAC Pitcher of the Year and CMU starter Jackson Eisenhauer with six runs before the Mavericks recorded a second out. Kyle Lewis reached base on catcher's interference to lead off and Hudson Grace was hit by a pitch. A series of strategic plays, including a sacrifice fly by Owen Alsup and a three-run homer by Chase Ditmar, put the Chaps ahead 6–0 after the first inning.
 
In the second inning, Lubbock Christian extended its lead with three more runs. Lewis was hit by a pitch and advanced on a wild pitch, eventually scoring on a throwing error. Carlos Mauldin added another run with a sacrifice fly, bringing the score to 9–0. But the Mavericks responded with two runs in the bottom half, making it 9–2.
 
CMU closed the gap significantly in the third inning. A solo homer made it 9-3, but the big swing came from Jackson Lapiner. He came to the plate with the bases loaded after an error, a walk and a hit by pitch and promptly hit a grand slam to make it 9-7.
 
Lubbock Christian's bats quieted in the middle innings, while Colorado Mesa added single runs in both the fifth and sixth innings, tying the game at 9–9. The seventh inning saw CMU take a decisive lead with six runs, aided by consecutive hits and a wild pitch. The inning ended with the Mavericks leading 15–9.
 
The Chaps attempted a late comeback in the ninth inning. Ditmar doubled and Roe Forrest hit a two-run homer. Ryan Gargett also homered, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit. The game concluded with Colorado Mesa securing a 15–12 victory.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Ditmar finished the season with his best performance of the year, recording his first four-hit game as a Chap and hitting just his second home run
• LCU is now7-14 all-time in NCAA Tournament games after making the tournament for their seventh time in 10 opportunities
• The three homers by the Chaps gave them an even total of 70 to finish the season Roe Forrest led the squad with tonight as his 11^th of the year
• Lubbock Christian stole two more bases on the day, closing out the season with their NCAA-era program record 119 swiped bags