ADAMS STATE (0-0, 0-0) at LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (0-0, 0-0)
Saturday, January 31 - 6:00 PM                                                     
Hays Field (Lubbock, Texas)
Radio: Online Only              
All-Time Series: LCU leads 5-4
Tweet #LCUvsASU

Weather permitting, the 2015 Lubbock Christian University baseball season is scheduled to get underway at 6 p.m. with LCU hosting Adams State University for a three-game series at Hays Field.

The Chaparrals would not mind a good start to the 2015 season, which is something they lacked last season. Lubbock Christian had a slow start to their 2014 season, opening the season with a 3-4 record, but went 36-6 the rest of the way for a 39-10 final record. They topped the Heartland Conference with a 26-4 record. It was their first season to lead a conference since 2010. The Chaps produced eight All-Conference selections and three All-American recipients this season. LCU led the conference with a .346 batting average (next closest was .301), which ranked fourth in the nation, and in home runs with 44. They closed the season scoring at least five runs in each of their final 22 games.

If LCU wants to duplicate the success of nearly 40 wins, they will have to find resources to fill the gaps of three All-Americans lost season. The All-Americans were of the rare variety and were literally the heart of the LCU lineup. Joel Lutz, Wigberto Nevarez and Brandon Wilson represent the departed trio. The "Big Three" produced 33 of the team's 44 home runs last season (75%) and 153 of the team's 347 runs-batted-in (44%).

Also gone are All-Conference selections Tim Carlson (pitcher) and Tanner Rainey (outfield). Coming back are All-Conference recipients Brig Gerlich, Hunter McFall and Jesus Pintado. Gerlich and Pintado are Preseason All-Region selections on a squad that is preseason ranked No.6 in the region.

There are a slew of newcomers joining the Chaparrals lineup. Hoping to draw some positive attention is pitcher Guillaume Blanchette. The Quebec native has spent time with the Canadian national team and produced a solid season last year with Galveston College. He is one of two Canadians in the rotation for the opening series against Adams State. Blanchette will start in Game Two, with Alberta native Levi Westerland following in the third game. Gerlich, 11-0 last season, will open the season on the mound for LCU. Pitcher Elfego Torres is the only new NCAA Div. I transfer on the active roster, and he will add to LCU's pitching depth. Torres, an El Paso native, spent last season with Lamar University. LCU returns a majority of their bullpen. Glenn Warrick (5 saves), Dalton Silva (4 saves) and Pintado (3 saves) each return to provide trustworthy arms in relief.

Wade Stramp returns to provide speed to the LCU line-up and one new addition to the line-up looking to make an impact is Adam Norblom. He transfers from Lamar College (Colo.) and ranked 18th in the nation in home runs with 12.  Also new is Jose Favela, who is a big-framed catcher drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 2012.

Head coach Nathan Blackwood will be the chess master behind putting all the pieces of the 2015 puzzle together. Blackwood, in his 12th season, enters the season with 491 career wins and is nine away from becoming the second coach in LCU history with 500 wins.

They open the season against Adams State University. The Grizzlies are preseason picked seventh in the eight-team Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Jim Capra is in his third season at the helm of ASU and seeks to build off a 15-35 season last season.

LCU won two of the three games last season, as both teams opened the season at Hays Field. ASU won the opening game 1-0 before LCU went on to claim 6-2 and 5-0 wins.  It was a historical series, as weather played a factor and forced the teams to play only the second tripleheader in LCU program history. LCU is 8-3 under head coach Nathan Blackwood in season openers.

If Saturday's 6 p.m. start gets postponed, LCU and ASU will play a single game at 1:30 p.m. Sunday and will follow with a doubleheader Monday.