LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (14-7)
vs. TAMIU (8-15)
March 15 – 2 p.m. (DH)
Hays Field (Lubbock, Texas)
Stats Game 1: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=259519
Stats Game 2: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=259521
Audio: N/A
Video: N/A 
 
LEADING OFF
Lubbock Christian University will continue its second home series of the season with a Friday doubleheader against Texas A&M-International at Hays Field. The Chaps took the series opener Thursday night 10-4 behind a strong start from Ryan Johnson and a three-hit performance from Braden Hayward. LCU is now seven games above .500 and has lost just once at the friendly confines of Hays Field in 2019.
 
THE CHAPARRAL NINE
• Chaps went 7-1 against TAMIU last season and is 17-3 against them in the last five years
• LCU played 17 of its first 22 games away from home this season, including the last 13 straight leading up to this series
• Lubbock Cristian ranks No. 4 nationally with 29 home runs this season
• LCU's staff ERA of 3.63 leads the Heartland Conference
• Chap batters are hitting .311 with runners in scoring position
• Probable starting pitchers for today's game are Chandler Casey and Nathan Dockery
• OF Hill Alexander's 60 total bases are tied for the 17th most nationally
• Catcher Andrew Pratt already has 19 walks this season, surpassing his 2018 total of 18
 
INSIDE THE SERIES NUMBERS
12 | Chaps had 12 hits in 24 chances with runners on base in the series opener
7.0 | Game two starter Chandler Casey pitched a season-high 7.0 innings in his most recent outing, scattering six hits and striking out three batters
6 | Andrew Pratt laid down a sacrifice bunt in the first game of the series, which was just the sixth of the year for the Chaps and ranks last in the Heartland Conference
11 | Hill Alexander notched his 11^th multi-hit game of the year in the series opener, moving into the team lead
.176 |Scheduled game three starter Nathan Dockery has allowed just three hits in 17 at-bats against left-handed batters for an opponent's batting average .176
3.19 | LCU starting pitchers have an ERA of 3.19 this season with 126 strikeouts
8 | With a single to right center in Thursday night's game, first basemen James Hardberger extended his reached-base streak to eight games
 
FRIENDLY CONFINES
Lubbock Christian will play the second four of 22 scheduled home games in the 2019 season this weekend as they take on the Texas A&M-International Dustdevils. Originally dedicated on April 29, 1978 as Chaparral Stadium, the complex was renamed Hays Field in 1999 to honor the L.D., Pearl, Larry, and Daren Hays families for their dedication and commitment to the ideals and values of Lubbock Christian University. The playing dimensions of Hays Field measure 340 feet down the lines, 380 feet to the power alleys, and 400 feet to straight away center. LCU was 21-6 at home last season and is 104-31 in their own ballpark since the start of the 2014 season.
 
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 3,092 games throughout all those years, posting an overall program record of 2,087 wins and 1,009 losses in that time.
 
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. Another three players on the 2019 of LCU's baseball team are from the surrounding area of Lubbock, including Idalou, New Deal and Shallowater.
 
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 229-114 (.667) won-loss record.