LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (9-16, 8-14 LSC) vs.
EASTERN NEW MEXICO (6-19, 6-19 LSC)
Saturday, April 10 – 1 p.m. (DH)
Hays Field – Lubbock, Texas
 
LEADING OFF
Lubbock Christian University will play two on Saturday, hosting Eastern New Mexico for a Lone Star Conference doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. The Chaps have a one-game lead in the series after a masterful performance on the mound by Armando Valle on Friday. If the Chaps win one game on Saturday, it will be their first series win since taking two of three from Texas A&M International March 12-14. If they win both ends of the doubleheader, it will be their first series sweep of the season.
 
PROBABLE STARTERS
Game 1
LCU – For the first time this season, head coach Nathan Blackwood will hand the ball to Owen Woodward to start the game. The freshman right-hander has been used often this season, making eight appearances, but they have all been out of the bullpen. He has an ERA of 1.37 in 19 and two thirds innings of work, having allowed just three earned runs on 12 hits and nine walks while striking out 15 batters. He has only allowed on extra-base hit (a double) this year. Woodward went the first 16 and a third innings of this season without allowing a single earned run, but that streak was broke last week against West Texas A&M. His career-high in innings pitched is 4.0, which he has done twice.
 
ENNMU – Dalton Thatcher is the likely candidate to go in game one for the Greyhounds, making his seventh start and eighth appearance overall this season. Thatcher, a righty, has a 6.91 ERA in 27 and a third innings of work this year. He has allowed 29 runs on 40 hits and 16 walks while striking out 20 batters. In his last outing, Thatcher went five and a third innings on the mound, allowing four runs on seven hits in a game that Eastern New Mexico eventually won against St. Mary's.
 
Game 2
LCU – Righty Tyler Hardwick will go the mound in game two for the Chaps, making his seventh appearance and fourth start of the year. The New Mexico native has a 6.66 ERA in 25 and two thirds innings or work. He has allowed 26 runs (19 earned) on 33 hits with 22 strikeouts. Walks have been an issue for Hardwick, as he has issued 19 of them. His last time out was a good one. He worked five and two thirds innings of relief against West Texas A&M, allowing just three runs while striking out a season-high six. Hardwick's season-high in innings pitched is six, which he did on March 14 against Texas A&M International.
 
ENMU – In the Greyhounds' last three series, it has been James Romero used as the third starting pitcher, but Romero has struggled the last two weeks, allowing seven runs while retiring just two batters April 2 against St. Mary's and giving up 10 runs in an inning and a third of work March 26 against St. Mary's. Romero has a 14.14 ERA in 14 innings of work this season. Jason Vasil has also made four starts this season, but did not pitch at all last weekend against St. Mary's. Liam Sabiston, Damian Acosta, James Puga and Shaun Watson have all made one start apiece.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
5.87 | Keeping the Greyhounds off the board for all nine innings on Friday, Lubbock Christian's overall ERA is now down to 5.87, which is the eighth-best mark in the LSC
16 | Chap catcher Luis Navarro had one base hit on Friday night, extending his hitting streak to 16 games. Colin Gordon had a pair of hits to push his hitting streak to eight games
.403 | LCU batters are reaching base at a .403 clip when leading off an inning. The usual one-hole hitter, Eduardo Acosta, has a .447 on-base percentage when leading off
.280 | Lubbock Christian batters are hitting a combined .280 in games played at Hays Field this season. Mason Donohoe leads the team with a .391 average at home
5 | Grant Griffin threw out an ENMU runner at the plate in the fifth inning of Friday night's game. It was LCU's fifth outfield assist of the year and the third by Griffin himself