SAN ANGELO, Texas – KOBE JARAMILLO pitched a complete-game shutout, and the St. Edward's Hilltoppers broke through with the game's lone run in the bottom of the eighth, advancing to the Lone Star Conference Baseball Championship game with a 1-0 win over Lubbock Christian.
 
Both teams saved their aces for the second day of the LSC Championship Round, pitting a pair of the four All-LSC First Team starting pitchers against each other, and arguably the top two.
 
Ryan Markwardt edged out Jaramillo in the postseason awards, taking home the LSC Pitcher of the Year. The senior left-hander lived up to his billing, throwing a complete game, striking out seven over eight innings with five walks and six hits. But he wasn't KOBE JARAMILLO. 
 
St. Edward's top pitcher threw his second complete-game shutout of the season, moving efficiently through the lineup with only four hits and a walk surrendered, limiting the Chaps to singles. Both defenses played clean games, committing no errors. 
 
The Hilltoppers threatened at the bottom of the fourth inning, loading the bases with two outs, but Markwardt escaped unscathed with a strikeout to end the inning, and ended the top of the fifth and sixth innings defensively with double plays. 
 
CONNOR COX sparked St. Edward's with a leadoff single to right-center in the bottom of the eighth, driving a 2-1 pitch into right-center. LANCE LITTLE mirrored Cox with a frozen rope to left-center for the double, putting both in scoring position. 
 
After MARCO BARRERA grounded into the first out of the inning, Lubbock Christian intentionally walked CARLO FIGUEROA to enable the double play opportunity or create a force opportunity at the plate. However, JOSH GRAHAM's execution of a suicide squeeze was better than the Chaps' best-laid plans, softly laying down the bunt a few feet in front of him a second before a charging Cox crossed the plate for the game's only run. 
 
Jaramillo saved his best for last, squaring off against a trio of all-conference hitters at the top of the Lubbock Christian lineup and retiring the side in order. Kyle Lewis ripped a shot directly to Barrera in left field for the first out. Jaramillo followed by getting the LSC Player of the Year and NCAA Division II home run leader, Brevin McCool, to foul out to shallow left field. Jacob Gutierrez grounded out to shortstop to end the game. 
 
St. Edward's won its second game against Markwardt (7-4), and Jaramillo earned his ninth win, going through 30 batters and nine innings in 105 pitches. Cox hit 2-for-3 with a walk and the winning run. TRAVIS CHESTNUT, Little, TREVOR SEBEK, and DYLAN TATE each had a hit. Graham drove in the winning run on the sacrifice bunt. 
 
The Hilltoppers will advance to the LSC Championship game to face the winner of Friday night's Angelo State and Lubbock Christian game. Starting at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, St. Edward's will have two opportunities to win one game for the conference title.