LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (0-1) vs.
ARKANSAS-FORT SMITH (1-0)
Saturday, January 30 – 10 a.m.
Minute Maid Park – Houston, Texas
 
LEADING OFF
It's a battle of two Lone Star Conference teams in non-conference play on Saturday, as the Chaps and Lions meet on the second day of the Houston Winter Invitational at Minute Maid Park. LCU fell in its season-opener, losing 7-5 to Central Missouri Friday afternoon. UAFS took on UCM in the nightcap and took advantage of a taxed Mule bullpen, scoring nine runs in the final four innings to win 10-4.
 
STARTING PITCHING MATCHUP
LCU – Left-hander Armando Valle will most likely get the ball for Lubbock Christian in the second game of the season after making six starts last year. During the 2020 season, Valle went 3-2 with an ERA of 6.07 in 29 and two thirds innings on the mound. He allowed 31 hits and walked 19 batters while on the mound but did have the highest strikeout rate on the team with 37 Ks.
 
UAFS – Freshman Logan Grant was on the bump for the Lions on Friday in their upset of Central Missouri, but it is unknown who will start the game on Saturday. Drew Young is UAFS's top returning pitcher by innings pitched, having started six games and hurled 31 and two-thirds innings a year ago. Either one of the Johnson brothers (Trevor and Brayden) are likely candidates also, along with junior Cooper Van Kooten.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
2 | Lubbock Christian already hit two home runs in the season-opener after struggling in the power department a season ago. Through 24 games in 2020, they cleared the fence just 10 times. Nolan Machibroda and Cayde Ward had the blasts on Opening Day for the Chaps.
.100 | Lubbock Christian left seven runners on base and was 1-10 hitting with runner on base, with the only hit being Machibroda's home run
7 | LCU showed a good eye at the plate on Friday, drawing seven walks against the Mules. Last season, the Chaps ranked seventh in all of Division II with 126 walks in their 24 games. Luis Navarro walked three times and Ward walked twice in the season-opener.
.279 | Opposing batters had 31 hits in 111 at-bats (.279 batting average) against Saturday's probable LCU starter Armando Valle last year.
2/1/19 | Lubbock Christian did not play a neutral site game at all in 2020 and they lost their last four neutral site games in 2019, making their last win at a neutral site Feb. 1, 2019, when they took down Emporia State at the Edmond 1^st Pitch Invitational.