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Softball Chris Due (chris.due@lcu.edu)

Lady Chaps Open 2020 Campaign In 'Bama (Take 2)

LCU Opens Away From Home For The First Time Since 2013

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GULF SHORES, Ala. (February 1, 2020) – Lubbock Christian University opens their 2020 season and the Gulf Shores Invitational tournament Saturday facing No.9 Florida Tech with a 9 a.m. first pitch at Gulf Shores Sportsplex. LCU will follow the contest facing No.24 Valdosta State with an 11:30 a.m. scheduled start. Rain led to the cancellation of Friday's game, so LCU did not (and will not) play Nova Southeastern and No.25 Saint Leo.
GULF SHORES INVITATIONAL
OPPONENT LOCATION CITY TIME (CT) WATCH STATS LCU STATS OPP. STATS
FTU Sportsplex Field 2 Gulf Shores, Ala. 9 a.m. Watch Stats - -
VSU Sportsplex Field 2 Gulf Shores, Ala. 11:30 a.m. Watch Stats - -
* - Online Video Links Will Appear Prior To Game Time Based on Weather and Connectivity

WUNDERGROUND WEATHER: A steady rain in the morning. Showers continuing in the afternoon. High 57F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.

WATCH ONLINE: LSC Digital Network (Online or via OTT apps including Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Roku devices by searching "LSC Digital Network.")
Talent: No Commentary

LCU Social Media: auto twitter icon instagram png Facebook PNG
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LCU and FTU Series Snapshot
  • LCU has never faced FTU.
  • The meeting will mark LCU's first game against a Florida-based program.
  • LCU has never faced a Sunshine State Conference member (Friday's two scheduled opponents were SSC members, but the games went unplayed).
 
LCU and VSU Series Snapshot
  • LCU has never faced VSU.
  • The Lady Chaps are 3-0 all-time against Georgia based programs.
  • Valdosta State is a member of the Gulf South Conference and LCU is 4-0 all-time against GSC members.

Season Expectations
  • The Lady Chaps are preseason picked to finish ninth in the Lone Star Conference.
  • LCU is in their sixth season playing a NCAA Division II schedule (2013 was their last season in NAIA) and this is their first season as members of the Lone Star Conference.
  • There are 17 softball programs in the LSC and the Lady Chap are one of five LSC programs that competed last season in the Heartland Conference.
 
Opening Day
  • LCU is 12-0 all-time in season openers.
  • Six of LCU's season openers have resulted in shutout wins.
  • On Feb. 13, 2008, LCU's season opener and inaugural game in program history resulted in a 15-0 no-hit victory over Southwest (N.M.).
  • Last season, LCU opened the season with a 10-2 win over Texas-Permian Basin at home (Feb.1).
  • The last time LCU opened the season away from home was their 2013 opener (10-0 win over Eastern New Mexico in San Antonio, Texas).
 
Last Season
  • LCU went 32-19 last season and finished fourth in the Heartland Conference with a 16-4 conference mark.
  • The season ended with a 4-3 loss in the championship round of the Heartland Conference Tournament (lost to Oklahoma Christian).
  • The Lady Chaps went 2-2 in neutral site games last season (the four neutral site games was the second-fewest single-season total behind two games in 2014).
 
The New Kids  
Breaking Down Returning Starters
  • Alivia Villiarreal (1B) - Villarreal claimed 2019 Heartland Conference Newcomer of the Year honors. She was the team's RBI leader, ranking third in the Heartland Conference with 44 RBI (ranked fourth in RBI per game 0.86). Led LCU in bases-loaded-hits (8-for-13, .615) and also produced a season-best 10-game hit streak during the season. She ranked second on the squad and tied for ninth in the conference in home runs (6), co-leading the team with four hit in conference play. Also ranked sixth in the conference in batting (.360) and on-base percentage (.461) and seventh in slugging (.527). Was a Heartland Conference Tournament All-Tournament Team selection.
  • Savannah Wysocki (OF) - Wysocki was recognized with 2019 Heartland Conference Freshman of the Year accolades. LCU's leadoff batter co-led the nation with eight triples and ranked fifth in the conference with 13 doubles. She led the conference with 53 runs, leading to 1.04 per game, which ranked 34th nationally. Wysocki reached base in 40.0% of her leadoff at-bats.
  • Alexa Riggs (INF/OF) - Riggs was named to the All-Heartland Conference Team (Second Team) her freshman season. She hit .312 with 28 runs on the season. The shortstop had a .500 mark reaching base in a leadoff at-bat during the season. Reached base 48% of the time in leadoff at-bats and was .354 hitter with the bases empty.
  • Breanna Anderson (OF) - Anderson ranked second on the club in stolen bases with 12. She was able to reach base 38% of at-bats in lead-off roles and was a .294 hitter with runners in scoring position.
  • Annika Schwartzenberg (INF) - Schwartzenberg was LCU's leader in pinch-hits, with eight on the season (hit .333 in pinch-hit at-bats). Reached base 44% of the time in lead-off at-bats and hit .378 when hitting with a runner in scoring position.
 
Coach Talk
  • LCU head coach Daren Hays is beginning his 10th season at the helm of the Lady Chaps.
  • Hays is LCU's winningest softball head coach, entering the season with a softball record of 398-122.
  • Along with surpassing 300 coaching wins in softball, Hays had surpassed 300 wins as a collegiate baseball head coach. He spent eight seasons as the LCU baseball head coach and compiled a 356-163 record.
 
Back to Bama
  • LCU is making their first return to Gulf Shores, Ala. And the Sportsplex since the 2012 NAIA Softball Championships.
  • The Lady Chaps appeared in three national championship tournaments in Gulf Shores (2011, 2012, 2013).
  • LCU is 4-4 all-time in games played in Gulf Shores.
 
National Notes
  • LCU is scheduled to face three teams nationally ranked in the NFCA Preseason Top-25 Poll while in Gulf Shores, as No.25 St. Leo, No.9 Florida Tech and No.24 Valdosta State are on LCU's weekend docket.
  • The Lady Chaps went 0-1 last season against nationally ranked programs.
  • Historically, LCU is 83-62 all-time against nationally ranked foes and 11-29 against ranked foes since playing a NCAA Division II schedule in 2014.
  • In 2013, LCU played 26 games against nationally ranked teams and went 21-5 in those games (matched single-season mark for games against ranked opponents and the 21 wins was a single-season high mark against teams nationally ranked).
  • LCU's last win over a ranked program was Feb. 27, 2018 over No.10 West Texas A&M.
 
Looking at FTU
  • The Panthers went 42-12 last season, finishing atop the SSC with a 23-7 conference mark. They had their season end in the South Region Super Regional to West Florida of the NCAA Division II postseason.
  • Last season, Florida Tech opened the season hosting Florida Tech Softball Classic, where they went 2-2 (both losses were to LSC foe Angelo State).
  • FTU is slated to finish second in the 11-team SSC Preseason Poll.
  • Florida Tech is ranked No.9, which is the highest preseason ranking in their program history and it is the first time in the top-10 to start the season. The last time the Panthers were in the NFCA preseason coaches poll was the 2016 season in which they debuted at No. 14.
 
Looking at VSU
  • The Blazers went 36-18 last season, finishing fifth in the GSC with a 14-12 conference record. They made an appearance in the NCAA Division II South Region tournament, going 1-2 in the tournament.
  • Valdosta State is making their second straight appearance at the Gulf Shores Invitational. They went 4-0 last season at the event.
  • VSU is preseason picked fifth in the GSC Preseason Poll. They are also nationally ranked, debuting at No.24.
  • Valdosta is seeking a 15th straight regional tournament appearance. Their streak of 14 straight appearances in the NCAA postseason marks the second-longest streak in the country behind Alabama Huntsville's 17 consecutive trips.
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Players Mentioned

Breanna Anderson

#7 Breanna Anderson

OF
5' 8"
Sophomore
Alexa Riggs

#1 Alexa Riggs

INF/OF
5' 3"
Sophomore
Annika Schwartzenberg

#12 Annika Schwartzenberg

INF
5' 7"
Senior
Savannah Wysocki

#22 Savannah Wysocki

OF
5' 5"
Sophomore
Addi Lewis

#14 Addi Lewis

C
5' 6"
Junior
Angela Donaldson

#18 Angela Donaldson

UT
5' 7"
Junior
Anna Page

#29 Anna Page

UT
5' 8"
Freshman
Athena Muniz

#4 Athena Muniz

RHP/OF
5' 4"
Junior
Brooke Makemson

#21 Brooke Makemson

INF
5' 6"
Junior
Chloe Read

#23 Chloe Read

C
5' 8"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Breanna Anderson

#7 Breanna Anderson

5' 8"
Sophomore
OF
Alexa Riggs

#1 Alexa Riggs

5' 3"
Sophomore
INF/OF
Annika Schwartzenberg

#12 Annika Schwartzenberg

5' 7"
Senior
INF
Savannah Wysocki

#22 Savannah Wysocki

5' 5"
Sophomore
OF
Addi Lewis

#14 Addi Lewis

5' 6"
Junior
C
Angela Donaldson

#18 Angela Donaldson

5' 7"
Junior
UT
Anna Page

#29 Anna Page

5' 8"
Freshman
UT
Athena Muniz

#4 Athena Muniz

5' 4"
Junior
RHP/OF
Brooke Makemson

#21 Brooke Makemson

5' 6"
Junior
INF
Chloe Read

#23 Chloe Read

5' 8"
Sophomore
C