OBU Loses Upset Bid to Lubbock Christian, 7-6

April 30, 2008

Lubbock Christian rallied from six runs down, scoring four times in the eighth and ninth innings to avoid an upset at the hand of Oklahoma Baptist, 7-6, in the winners bracket of the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament in Plainview, Texas, Friday.

Adam Garner held the top-ranked Chaps to two runs over the first seven innings, working out of big jams in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings with minimal damage. But after getting the second out of the eighth and with a runner on base and with Garner well over 125 pitches on his right arm, OBU turned the game over to Jordan McCavitt.

McCavitt (8-2), who had held LCU to one hit in four innings of work in the regular season, walked the first batter he faced before giving up a three-run home run to Rob Learned, tying the game.

Ryan Burke walked to lead off the ninth and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. McCavitt struck out LCU's leading hitter Chase Robertson and intentionally walked Buck Britton. But Jaime Armendariz came through with his first hit of the game - a gapper to left center to easily score Burke with the winner.

The Bison led 3-0 after the first inning on an RBI ground-rule double by Josh Collazo and a two-run home run by Mason Reilly.

The lead moved to 6-0 in the second inning, getting an RBI single by Billy Thomas, a sacrifice fly by Kyle Cooper and an RBI double by Collazo.

But from there, Chris Holguin (11-0) held the Bison to no runs on two hits for the complete game win.

Thomas, Collazo and Keith Johnson all had two hits among OBU's nine.

Now 41-13, the Bison play an elimination game against USAO Thursday at 4 p.m.