TYLER, Texas (May 8. 2026) — Lubbock Christian University's comeback attempt fell just short in a 6-5 loss on Friday at Irwin Field, ending their run in the Lone Star Conference Tournament.
The Chaparrals' efforts included two home runs as they battled to overcome a four-run fourth inning by the Rams, and they got five shutout innings from the bullpen, but couldn't overcome the early deficit.
It was a deluge of home runs through the first three frames on both sides of the diamonds. LCU took the lead first in the bottom of the first on a long ball from
Hudson Grace. They held onto that lead until the third until a two-run blast put the Rams ahead.
Jorge De Los Santos answered with a two run blast of his own, see-sawing the Chaps back in front 3-2.
The fourth inning saw the Rams take control. A throwing error allowed Payton Bush to reach base, setting the stage for a three-run home run by Tate Greene, followed by a solo homer from Garrett Wallace. They would be the final runs ASU scored on the day.
The Chas stayed down by four until the seventh inning, when
Aaron Morales singled to center field, allowing
Kyle Lewis to score. Grace scored on a wild pitch, narrowing the deficit to 6-5 after the seventh inning.
Andrew Dalconzo, who entered the game in the top of the seventh, kept the deficit at just one through the eighth, despite the Rams putting runners at second and third with one out. He followed it up with a scoreless ninth. The Chaps had two on with one out, but a strikeout and a groundout ended the game.
GAME NOTES:
- Dalconzo set new career highs in both innings pitched and strikeouts. He had previously only pitched as many as two innings, and even that was almost three months ago on Feb. 12.
- With two more home runs in the game, the Chaps now have 67 on the season, which leads the league by double digits.
- LCU's relief pitchers combined to allow just two hits and one walk in their five and 2/3 innings of work.
- The Chaparrals' pitching staff did not allow a two-out hit in the entire game.
NEXT UP:
Lubbock Christian will await their postseason fate, which they will find out during a selection show on Sunday, May 10 at 9 p.m. CT live-streamed on NCAA.com. The 56-team field will feature 21 automatic qualifiers and 35 at-large bids.
