EDMOND, Okla. - Oklahoma Christian withstood four unanswered runs from Lubbock Christian thanks to some solid relief pitching to take a two-games-to-one lead in the weekend series after a 7-6 game-three win.
True freshman
Kaden Mitchell (1-0) claimed his first collegiate win in two innings of relief work where he allowed just one run.
Jason Rickert picked up the no-decision after spending three innings on the mound, allowing just one run while striking out two Chaparall batters.
Tim Malone completed the solid pitching performances with his first career save after pitching the seventh.
Ruben Castro continued his outstanding weekend with another two-hit contest with two RBI. Castro is now 5-for-11, including two home runs, with six RBI in the three games against LCU.
Jaret Liebbe, in his first start of the season, claimed his first two hits of 2026 with three RBI, two of which came on his first career home run.
Following a lead-off home run for Lubbock Christian, OC responded with a single run in the second inning on Liebbe's first RBI. After LCU retook the lead on a single run in the third, Oklahoma Christian swung the game's momentum in its favor with a six-run bottom of the third.
After the Eagles recorded five of their six third-inning runs off three home runs, Oklahoma Christian was held scoreless the rest of the way. With the lead intact, the combination of Mitchell,
Noah Phan, Rickert and Malone kept the Chaparral damage to a minimum, withstanding seven LCU hits over the final six innings.
Leading 7-6 in the top of the ninth, following a ground out and a single, the biggest defensive play of the game came on a caught stealing from catcher
Hunter Sandifer, who had just come into the game to catch one inning prior, to second baseman
Elijah Laus, who at the same time as Sandifer moved from third to second, for the second out of the frame.
Two batters later, with the game-tying run at second, Malone issued a 6-3 ground out to earn the save and the victory for Oklahoma Christian, 7-6.
The maroon-and-gray (3-6, 3-6 LSC) will host Lubbock Christian for the series finale and a chance to win the series outright Saturday, Feb. 14 at 1 p.m.
