LEADING OFF
Lone Star Conference play is already here for the Lubbock Christian University baseball team, as they hit the road to take on Arkansas-Fort Smith in three games this weekend. The two teams have already met on the diamond one time this season, as both teams participated in the 2021 Houston Winter Invitational at Minute Maid Park. LCU won the first matchup with 11 strikeouts from their pitchers and three home runs, but both teams went 1-2 in their respective opening weekends. The three-game series this weekend to open LSC play will feature a doubleheader on Friday and one game on Saturday, as both teams look for an increase in their offensive production.
 
THE CHAPARRAL NINE
• Lubbock Christian will be making their first trip to Fort Smith, Ark. since 2019, when they swept the Lions
• LCU was picked to finish eighth in the 2021 LSC Preseason Poll, while UAFS was picked to finish sixth
• Although the Chaps beat the Lions last weekend, UAFS did beat C. Missouri (10-4), who took down LCU
• LCU is batting .156 as a team through three games, with four starters still looking for their first hit
• Head Coach Nathan Blackwood needs 30 wins to become the winningest coach in LCU history
• The Lubbock Christian 2021 schedule features 16 road contests and 21 to be played at home
• Five Chap relievers pitched at least one inning opening weekend without allowing a run
• UAFS hit .202 as a team and posted a staff ERA of 4.85 during their first three games of the season
 
THE LEAGUE
Lubbock Christian's first year in the Lone Star Conference definitely did not go as planned. The season, which was cut short after just 24 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, saw the Chaps go 7-17 in conference play and ending the season ranked 11^th in the conference standings. They won two LSC series during the year, beating St. Edward's to start the year and Texas A&M International later in the year. The Chaps will added a number of newcomers who have already made an impact this season and will look to improve their league standing in their second (and first full) season in the Lone Star Conference.
 
EXTRA! EXTRA!
The Chaparrals collected 14 total hits in their first three games, competing at the Houston Winter Invitational last weekend, with an insane 10 of those hits (71 percent) going for extra bases. All three of the hits by LCU slugging percentage leader (1.250) Nolan Machibroda went for extra bases, as he cleared the fence twice and doubled off the wall at Minute Maid Park. During the 2020 season, LCU had 178 total hits, with only 46 (26 percent) going for extra bases. The Chaps were seventh in the league last year with 251 total bases, but they have collected 37 already this year.
 
POWER SURGE
A major area that was lacking for LCU during the 2020 season was the long ball, but that does not seem to be a problem this year. After hitting 66 home runs in 52 games in 2019, the Chaps cleared the fence just ten times in the 24 games they played in 2020. This year the team seems to be closer to 2019 levels, having crushed six homers in the three games in Houston. Last season, LCU did not get its sixth home run of the year until the 17^th game of the season. Machibroda and Cayde Ward have two round-trippers apiece, and Eduardo Acosta and Grant Griffin have also hit home runs. LCU hit three of their home runs in the 1/30 win against UAFS.
 
ROAD JOURNAL
Friday and Saturday's games will be the first road games of the season for the Chaps, who played at a neutral site on opening weekend. Last season, LCU had 13 road games and went 5-8 in that time, getting three wins at Texas A&M International and two at St. Edward's. They were swept in a road series at Texas A&M-Kingsville. The pitching staff was much better in road games than home games last year, posting a 3.78 ERA away from home, although quality of opponent likely played a large factor. Offensively, the Chaps hit .233 with 23 extra-base hits in their 2020 road games.
 
OH, WHAT A RELIEF IT IS
Lubbock Christian's bullpen was excellent in the first three games of the season, posting an ERA of just 1.23 in 14.2 innings of work at the Houston Winter Invitational. They allowed five runs (only two earned) with just one walk, 13 strikeouts and an opponent's batting average of just .196. The bullpen allowed just two extra-base hits, both of which were doubles. Cannon Davis, a transfer from UTRGV, had the best relief outing, working four and a third scoreless innings with just one hit allowed, no walks and five strikeouts.
 
PRESEASON PICKS
In the 2021 Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll, which reflects the opinions of LSC head coaches, sports information directors and various media representatives throughout the region, Lubbock Christian was picked to finish eighth in the league this year. They received 212 points in the preseason poll overall. UAFS was picked to finish sixth, tallying 274 points.  Angelo State was picked to win the league with 428 points and 23 of the 34 first place votes. Josh Elvir and Trent Baker of the Rams were picked as the Preseason Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year, respectively.
 
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. Lubbock Christian has played 3,192 games throughout all those years, posting an overall program record of 2,145 wins and 1,047 losses in that time.
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS

• UAFS head coach Todd Holland is in his seventh season with the Lions and has a 463-321 record as a NCAA Division II head coach.
• The Lions hit just .202 in their first three games of the season, collecting 20 hits. Only three of those hits went for extra bases, and all three were doubles.
• UAFS pitchers posted an ERA of 4.85 at the Houston Winter Invitational, allowing opposing batters to hit .302 against them in 26.0 innings of work.
• Arkansas-Fort Smith was also a new member of the Lone Star Conference last season and posted a 13-9 record before the season was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Lions' only win so far this season came in their season-opener against a top-25 opponent in Central Missouri. The UAFS offense touched up UCM for 10 runs on nine hits, including two RBI apiece from Dylan Hurt and Nick Anderson.

 
THE SERIES WITH THE LIONS
Lubbock Christian and Arkansas-Fort Smith first began competing on the diamond in 2014, when the Chaps joined the Heartland Conference. LCU is 14-6 all-time against UAFS in that time, including winning eight of the last nine meetings. The two teams did not meet in 2020, and the Chaps swept the regular season series in both 2019 and 2018.