CANYON, Texas – The Buffaloes of West Texas A&M jumped out to an early lead for the second straight day before the Lubbock Christian Chaps connected on four homeruns on their way to a 17-12 victory to win the opening round series of the 2025 Lone Star Conference Baseball Championships at Hays Field in Lubbock, Texas.
 
The Buffs got on the board in the top of the first inning on a Kory Schmidt RBI single that plated Jovan Camacho for a 1-0 lead.
 
WT extended their lead in the second as Kyle Micklus doubled to the gap in left center with the bases loaded to drive in a pair followed by a wild pitch to score Ryan Camacho to force a move to the LCU bullpen with a 4-0 lead.
 
Lubbock Christian plated their first runs of the game in the home half of the second inning as Kade York lifted a sac fly to center field followed by a Kyle Lewis two-run shot to left center at 4-3. WT responded in the top of the fourth as they took advantage of an LCU error to score Josh Zapata to make it 5-3.
 
The Chaps took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning with two outs as Nicklaus Baumbach lifted a three-run homer to left center to make it 6-5. 
 
LCU added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth on a Lewis two-run triple with one out followed by a Brevin McCool RBI single, the Chaps weren't done yet as they plated another run on a wild pitch with the bases loaded and two outs followed by a Blake Tijerina two-run single for the 12-5 lead.
 
WT cut into the lead in the top of the sixth as Zapata started off the frame with a solo long ball to left center followed later by a Schmidt two-run single to left field, Schmidt would stay hot at the plate with a two-run single followed by a Dylan Fesperman triple to the gap in left center score two to make it 12-10. WT wasn't done yet as Seth Ochoa singled home another run at 12-11.
 
Lubbock Christian added insurance runs in the home half of the seventh on a Johnny Gomez III two-run single with the bases loaded followed by a York three-run blast to left center for the 17-11 lead. 
 
The Buffs wouldn't go down without a fight as Schmidt drove in his fourth run of the game with an RBI single to make it 17-12.
 
Nathan Scott picked up the loss (4-5) for the Buffs, allowing eight earned runs on eight hits with one walk and a strikeout in his 2.2 innings of relief.
 
The selection show for the 2025 NCAA Division II Baseball postseason will take place on Sunday, May 11th on NCAA.com.