OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (October 18, 2019) – The Lubbock Christian University softball team will face the 2020 USA Softball Women's National Team (WNT) in Midland, Texas at Security Bank Ballpark on April 25, 2020 as the "Stand Beside Her" tour rolls through the United States in preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
 
The Midland RockHounds, a minor league baseball Double-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, Midland will host the Lady Chaparrals and the Red, White and Blue, as the WNT aims to capture the Gold Medal in Tokyo where the sport of softball returns to the Olympic program for the first time since 2008.
 
"I'm excited to have a tour stop in Midland, Texas," said 2020 WNT member Kelsey Stewart. "We have had a few games in Texas before and the amount of hospitality, both from our hosts and our fans, is unbelievable. No matter the weather, the fans in Texas show up in the masses and we are excited to have the opportunity to play in from of them as we are gearing up for the Olympics."
 
In Midland, fans will have the opportunity to watch Team USA compete against LCU on April 25 in a doubleheader beginning at 6 p.m. Game two will take place approximately 35 minutes after the conclusion of game one. This is LCU's second involvement with USA Softball. In 2008, LCU softball student-athletes Marissa Gonzalez and Raquel Hawkins suited up for the ASA Regional All-Star squad, which faced the WNT in Midland as the Red, White and Blue were preparing for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
 
"We are extremely honored to have the Lubbock Christian University softball program chosen to play the U.S. National Team," said Lubbock Christian University softball Head Coach, Daren Hays. "Our players are very excited about the opportunity to play against the best players and the best team in world."
 
Played at Security Bank Ballpark (5514 Champions Drive, Midland, Texas, 79706), individual tickets for the games will be on sale beginning February 1, 2020 at www.milb.com/midland/tickets. Reserved tickets are available for $16 while group tickets are available for purchase now by calling the RockHounds Front Office at 432-520-2255.
 
"We're honored to bring the 2020 U.S. Olympic Softball Team to Midland, Texas," said USA Softball of Texas Commissioner and President-Elect, Rodney Cobb. "We hope that everyone who comes will be inspired by these elite athletes who are exceptional role models both on and off the field."
 
With the return of softball to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games program, the "Stand Beside Her" tour provides much-needed training and competition for the 2020 WNT in their preparation for the Olympic Games while also giving fans a chance to watch the Red, White and Blue in person. Olympic competition will start July 22, 2020 with the Gold Medal Game being played on July 28.
 
The "Stand Beside Her" tour evokes a powerful message of unity aimed to inspire communities to stand beside HER – the members of the WNT, America and the future generation of female athletes.  
 
"The Midland RockHounds are once again excited to host the USA Olympic Softball team, said Midland RockHounds General Manager, Monty Hoppel, whose daughter Kelsey was a two-sport student-athlete (softball and women's basketball) at LCU. "We hosted the game in 2008 before the team played in Beijing and had one of the top three crowds of the tour. We expect another big crowd to cheer on the team."
 
Additional stops for the "Stand Beside Her" tour will be announced at a later date. For more information on the "Stand Beside Her" tour, please visit StandBesideHerTour.com.