LUBBOCK, Texas (May 8, 2021) – The wind was gusting out at Hays Field on Saturday, which usually means home runs and high scores. Unfortunately for the Eagles, most of those home runs were hit by Lubbock Christian (Texas).

The Chaparrals tagged OC for eight home runs and the Eagles proved unable to keep pace as Lubbock Christian pulled away for a 23-13 win that ended after seven innings due to the 10-run rule. Larry Leitha hit three homers for the Chaparrals while Mason Donohoe and Nolan Machibroda had two each.

OC (24-13, 21-11 Lone Star Conference) hit four home runs of its own, including two by Michael DiFiore that increased his league-leading total to 17, the fourth-highest single-season total in OC baseball history.

The Eagles caught a break as Cameron beat Texas A&M-Kingsville 14-8, keeping OC ahead of TAMUK in the race for third place in the LSC. OC can clinch third with a win over LCU (18-21, 16-19) on Sunday in the series finale or a TAMUK loss.

The home runs came early and often for both teams. Chance Westervelt's three-run homer in the top of the first put OC ahead, but Leitha answered with his first homer on the day, a three-run shot off OC starter Jacob Mattox (2-1) in the bottom of the inning. It was tied 4-4 after the first, an indicator of what was to come.

The Eagles scored five runs in the second, with DiFiore hitting a three-run homer and Tanner White adding a two-run shot to make it 9-2. But OC then went two innings without scoring and the Chaparrals took advantage, roaring ahead.

An OC error led to two LCU runs in the bottom of the second and Machibroda hit a two-run homer in the third. The Chaparrals – once down by seven runs – took the lead with a five-run fourth inning, with Navarro leading off with a home run and Machibroda soon following with a grand slam.

OC answered with three runs in the fifth – none scoring on a home run – to pull within 13-12 but Lubbock Christian scored five more runs in the bottom of the inning, as Leitha and Donohoe each contributed a two-run homer.

DiFiore hit a solo homer in the sixth, but that proved to be OC's final run. Donohoe's grand slam in the sixth extended the Chaparrals' lead to 22-13 and Leitha's leadoff home run in the seventh gave LCU a 10-run lead and caused the run rule to be invoked.

Logan Ellis (2-1), the second of four Lubbock Christian pitchers, was credited with the win.