Chaps sweep Hounds, take LSC crown

LUBBOCK – Eastern New Mexico University’s baseball played Lubbock Christian competitively for much of the team’s final Lone Star Conference series of the season, but the Greyhounds didn’t have anything to show for it.

LCU completed a late charge to overhaul West Texas A&M for its first regular-season championship since joining the league in 2020 and earn the No. 1 seed in the conference’s eight-team postseason tournament beginning this weekend, beating the Hounds 9-4 on Sunday to complete a four-game sweep.

It was just enough to send the Chaparrals (36-14, 35-15 LSC) past the Buffaloes (35-15, 34-14) in the final standings. LCU hosts a first-round best-of-three series against eighth-place St. Edward’s (22-26, 22-26) this weekend, and by winning would then host a four-team, double-elimination tournament next week.

ENMU (21-29, 19-29), which finished 10th, was in every game until late, including Sunday’s finale in which they led 4-3 in the fourth before being blanked over the final eight frames. Junior right-hander Logan Ellis (3-2), who worked a perfect fifth, earned the win.

Eight players combined for 13 hits for the Chaps, led by junior third baseman Brevin McCool of Hobbs, who was 3-for-4 with a run-scoring double in a three-run sixth and a sacrifice fly during a two-run eighth.

ENMU had nine hits, with junior second baseman Demetrio Archuleta going 2-for-3 and junior center fielder Tucker Gideon and senior designated hitter Cooper Hamilton both finishing 2-for-4.

The Hounds led 1-0, 3-2 and 4-3 against starter Chris Shull, but managed only three hits over the final five innings and finished the day 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position. All came against sophomore left-hander Coleson Abel, who also posted eight strikeouts over 3 2/3 frames.

LCU 6-9, ENMU 5-4 (Saturday) – The Chaps led 5-0 going into the seventh inning of the first of two games scheduled for seven, but ENMU forced extra innings by scoring five runs on four hits.

After three singles to start the frame, Hamilton drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 5-1. Junior third baseman Landon Pyles then hit a two-run single before junior left fielder Luciano Terilli hit a sacrifice fly and junior first baseman Beau Preston tied it on an RBI fielder’s choice.

LCU then won it on a ninth-inning sacrifice fly by junior Frayner Chavez.

The Chaps broke a scoreless tie on a three-run homer by senior first baseman Nate Van Maanen in the fourth, then made it 5-0 when junior left fielder Shea Bowen hit a two-run shot in the fifth.

Junior right-hander Ayden Alger carried a three-hit shutout into the seventh. Junior right-hander Gavin Perry was lifted after five innings, allowing seven hits and five runs but walking none and striking out eight.

ENMU then belted a season-high five homers in the nightcap, including four in the first three innings for a 6-0 lead. Junior catcher Daniel Pruitt hit two of them, including a two-run shot in the third, while Archuleta cranked a two-run blast in the first and junior designated hitter Jonathan Baileys added a solo blast in the second.

Junior right-hander Julian Lopez had two out and no one on in the bottom of the third, but issued six consecutive walks to allow the Chaps to cut the lead in half. LCU scored four times in the fourth to take the lead, but Baileys hit his second homer of the game, and Pyles drove in a run with a fielder’s choice grounder to put the Hounds back in front.

The Chaps then scored four times again in the fifth, two on a home run by catcher Jaxson Edwards. Chavez hit a solo homer in the sixth, and the Hounds got one back in the seventh on Preston’s two-out RBI triple to right-center.

ENMU outhit the Chaps 11-9, but couldn’t overcome 10 walks allowed. Seven of LCU’s nine hits went for extra bases.