LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (0-0)
vs. EMPORIA STATE (0-0)
Friday, Feb. 1 - 4 p.m.
Wendell Simmons Field (Edmond, Oklahoma)

OPENING DAY
Lubbock Christian University will open up the 2019 season this weekend, taking on three separate teams at the Edmond First Pitch Classic, hosted by Central Oklahoma. The Chaps are on the road to start out for the first time since 2017, when they opened up at the D-II Airhog Classic in Grand Prairie. LCU went 34-20 last season with a 17-11 record in Heartland Conference play. This season, Lubbock Christian will play 50 games in the regular season, including 22 at home and 38 away from Lubbock. The Chaparrals were a dominant 21-6 at the friendly confines last season, but 11-12 in true road games and 2-2 in neutral site contests.
 
CHAP STARTING NINE
• Lubbock Christian was ranked No. 2 in the Heartland Conference preseason poll with 7 first place votes
• Chaps were ranked sixth in the NCBWA Preseason South Central Region poll
• Chandler Casey (1st team) and Andrew Pratt (2nd team) were named NCBWA Preseason All-Region
• Casey, Pratt and Hill Alexander were recognized as players to watch by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper
• Nine position players return to the Chaparrals from their 2018 team
• Ten pitchers (three starters, seven relievers) return from 2018 team
• LCU was 17-11 in non-conference play during the 2018 season
• Pratt returns to the team after leading Chaps in BA, OBP, SLG, HR, TB and HBP in 2018
• Chaps hit for power in 2018, leading the Heartland in 2Bs (108), HR (63) and SLG% (.493)
 
2000 AND COUNTING
Since the inception of LCU's baseball program in 1971, the Chaparrals have been one of the best baseball teams at whatever level they were playing at. Lubbock Christian has played 3,075 games throughout all those years, posting an overall program record of 2,073 wins and 1,002 losses in that time for a winning percentage of .674.
 
HOMEGROWN PRODUCTS
Of the 33 players on the Lubbock Christian University baseball team this season, exactly one third (11) played high school baseball in Lubbock, including opening day starting pitcher Ricky Contreras. Another three players on the 2019 of LCU's baseball team are from the surrounding area of Lubbock, including Idalou, New Deal and Shallowater.
 
ROAD WARRIORS
The Chaps will play 18 of their first 23 games this season away from the friendly confines of Hays Field and City Bank Clubhouse, playing just one home series (vs. Cameron Feb. 8-10) and one midweek game (vs. New Mexico Highlands Feb. 19) before March 14. LCU was 13-14 in games away from Lubbock last season and is 72-60 in road or neutral site games over the last five seasons.
 
COACHING CONSISTENCY
Lubbock Christian is bringing back the same three main coaches that have been with the team each of the last six seasons. Pitching coach Justin Sundlie, who played catcher at LCU in 2005 and 2006, is the newbie of the group, entering his seventh season with the Chaps, while head coach Nathan Blackwood and hitting coach Bob Fannin have been leading the program for the last 15 seasons. Together, the group has led LCU to a pair of first place finishes in the Heartland Conference, two NCAA South Central Regional appearances and a 215-107 (.667) won-loss record.
 
OUT OF THE PARK
Chap hitters did well at the plate in the 2018 season, as the team averaged 9.7 hits and 6.4 runs per game while hitting .303 as a team. The offensive prowess, however, came from their power. LCU led the Heartland Conference in slugging percentage at .493 (27^th in the nation), home runs with 63 (32^nd in the nation) and doubles with 108 (29^th nationally).
 
PRESEASON PROWESS
With three players on the All-Heartland Conference Preseason Team, LCU was the conference leader. Catcher Andrew Pratt (2018 Heartland Defensive Player of the Year), reliever Chandler Casey (2018 All-Heartland Conference First Team) and outfielder Will Clark were all selected for the preseason honor. LCU was picked to finish No. 2 overall behind St. Edward's, but received the same number of first place votes (7) as the Hilltoppers.
 
IN THE POLLS
LCU was recognized in a pair of national polls prior to the start of the 2019 season, including a No. 15 ranking from Perfect Game USA. In the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper preseason poll, the Chaps were selected as the 40^th best team in the country, while the National College Baseball Writers Association top 25 did not include Lubbock Christian. The NCBWA did include LCU in its preseason South Central Regional poll, placing the Chaps in sixth place.