Chaps Outlasts Stars 10-9

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 12, 2010) – Paul Gonzalez struck out ten batters and came an out away of a complete game, as No.5 Lubbock Christian University dodged a three-run rally in the ninth to edge No.7 Oklahoma City University 12-11 and move into the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament championship game scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m.

Despite serving as the host school of the tournament at Jim Wade Stadium, Oklahoma City was the visiting team and batted first.  They took advantage of batting first with Terrance Jackson hitting a home run to lead off the game.  Rafael Thomas matched Jackson’s hit to lead off the bottom of the first inning for LCU, as Thomas’ lead-off homer tied the game at 1-1.  The Stars regained the lead in the top of the second inning with Mark Purser hitting a two-run home run for a 3-1 advantage.  The Chaps rallied back in the third inning with J.J. Muse leading off with a solo home run.  Muse’s home run was the first of four consecutive hits for the Chaps.  With the bases loaded, Ross Blondin hit a sacrifice fly and Richard Bohlken followed a walk to Doug Kroll with a double to left-centerfield to unload the bases for three runs-batted-in.  Bohlken’s hit gave LCU a 6-3 advantage and it capped the five-run inning. 

The Stars wasted no time tying the game up, using a solo home run from Purser and a two-run home run from Matt Presley in the fourth inning.  Gonzalez would not allow another hit over a stretch of 11 batters and kept the Stars scoreless for the next four innings.  Meanwhile, the Chaps offense took the opportunity to regain the lead.  Thomas hit a two-out two-run home run in the sixth inning for his second home run of the game and his first multi-homer game of the season.  Doug Kroll extended the lead to 10-6 with a two-run homer in the seventh inning.

Kroll’s homer proved to be important for the Chaps.  Oklahoma City’s Matt Presley hit a home run with one out in the top of the ninth inning, and Steve Vitale followed a Kirk Walker single with a two-run home run with two outs to cut the LCU lead to 10-9.  Gonzalez was replaced by Hunter Scott an out shy of garnering the complete game.  Scott surrendered a single to Garrett Regan to place the tying run on first base and the lead run at the plate.  Scott completed his team-leading seventh save by forcing Chad Carman into chopping a ground ball back to him for the put-out.

All of Oklahoma City’s runs were driven in by home runs, and they hit six of them in the game.  Purser and Presley each had a pair.  The Chaps also found success with the longball, hitting four home runs with two coming from Thomas.  The Chaps centerfielder finished the game 3-for-4 with three runs-batted-in.

Gonzalez improved to 8-1 on the season, allowing nine runs off 12 hits in 8 2/3 innings.  His 10 strikeouts fell two shy of matching his season high.  Clint Maune fell to 3-2 with the loss, as he allowed 10 runs off 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings.

The Stars fell to 43-14 and will play Northwestern Oklahoma State University Thursday afternoon.  LCU improves to 43-11 with the win and they are a win away from winning the SAC Tournament title.  The championship game is scheduled for Thursday against either NWOSU or Oklahoma City.  LCU’s opponent for Thursday’s game would have to defeat the Chaps twice to claim the title.  The game will air on SportsRadio 1340 AM “The Fan.”