LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (16-18, 14-16 LSC) vs.
UT TYLER (23-14, 21-12 LSC)
Friday, April 30 – 6 p.m.
Hays Field – Lubbock, Texas
 
LEADING OFF
After a four-game road swing that wrapped up their away game allotment for the regular season, Lubbock Christian University returns home for six straight games at home, beginning with this weekend's three-game set against UT Tyler. The Chaps have won three straight series heading into the weekend and added in a midweek upset of No. 5 Angelo State in last Tuesday for good measure, giving them wins in eight of their last 10 games overall. They have moved up one spot to seventh in the LSC Standings. The Patriots have dropped their last two series, falling in a sweep against Oklahoma Christian and losing two of three at home against St. Mary's.
 
THE CHAPARRAL NINE

• Chap catcher Luis Navarro is second in the conference with a batting average of .408
• UT Tyler ranks ninth in team batting average (.269) and eighth in staff ERA (5.99) in the LSC
• The Chaps have hit 36 home runs this season, which is the second-most in the conference
• LCU leadoff batters are reaching base at a .408 clip, led by Eduardo Acosta's .474 mark
• The Patriots do not commit many errors, ranking third in the league with a .976 fielding percentage
• Lubbock Christian will finish the regular season at home, where they have a 7-8 record this year
• Righties are batting just .257 against the LCU pitching staff
• The Chaps are facing the Patriots at home for the second straight year after losing 3 of 4 in 2020

 
WALK IT LIKE I TALK IT
Lubbock Christian comes into the weekend series ranking No. 20 in the nation in walks draw with 166, which is an average of almost five walks per game for the season. Junior catcher Luis Navarro leads the way with 28 walks, which is also tied for the fifth-most in the LSC. George Mendazona is close behind with 23 free passes, and Nolan Machibroda has drawn 21. LCU has drawn 10 walks in a single game twice this season, including the series finale against UT Permian Basin. All of the free passes have led the Chaps to a team on-base percentage of .401, which ranks in the top half of the conference.
 
ATTACKING IN APRIL
The series-opener on Friday will be the last game played by the Chaps in April, which has been a good month. LCU has gone 8-5 in the mound with series wins over Eastern New Mexico, Cameron and UT Permian Basin as well as midweek win against Angelo State. Their only series loss was against West Texas A&M. The hitters have been great, posting a team average of .341, while the pitching staff ERA in April was 5.38. Eduardo Acosta, Larry Leitha and Navarro are all hitting above .400 for the month, and Navarro leads the team with 42 total bases. Logan Ellis and Peyton Hutson led the pitching staff with sub-3.00 ERAs.
 
POWER SURGE
With 75 doubles, 19 triples and 36 home runs, the Chaparrals check in at No. 4 on the Lone Star Conference slugging percentage ranking with a team mark of .487. Both their home run and triple totals rank second in the league, and they are third in doubles, only two back of Angelo State. Colin Gordon is the LSC-leader in two-baggers (13) and Acosta is tied for the league lead in triples with five. Both Acosta and Navarro are slugging well above .600 for the season. Larry Leitha ranks third on the team and has been raising his slugging percentage rapidly, with three doubles, one triple and three home runs since returning to the starting lineup on April 16 against Cameron.
 
SUPER STREAKS
With hits in all three games against the Falcons, Navarro has now hit safely in 25 straight games, which is the longest streak by a Chap in the last 12 years (as far back as that data is available). He is in shouting distance but still not really close to the program record for a hitting streak, which is 44 games set by LCU Athletic Hall of Honor member John Harris, who recorded a hit in 44 straight games in 1976. Acosta is the only other Chap with a hitting streak longer than five games, but Gordon does have a streak of 17 games in which he has reached base safely, dating back to March 21.
 
NAVARRO NABBING RUNNERS
Although much has already been said about his prowess at the plate, Navarro has also been a force behind the dish this season. He has caught and LSC-leading 20 runners stealing and has a stolen base allowed percentage of just .667, which is the second lowest in the conference. He has also picked off three runners. The 20 caught stealing are the most by a Chap catcher in a single season in the last 12 years, surpassing Andrew Pratt's mark of 19  during the 2018 season.
 
THE PEN IS MIGHTIER
Although the starting rotation has been shuffled around several times this season, Lubbock Christian's bullpen has stayed solid, posting a 4.70 ERA in 130.1 innings of work. They have allowed just 68 earned runs on 121 hits and 82 walks while striking out 118 batters. Opponents are hitting just .251 against them. Cade Acrey has been the most-used reliever, posting a 3.86 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 28 innings of work. Both Peyton Hutson and Cannon Davis have been on the mound for exactly 20.2 innings, posting ERAs of 4.79 and 5.66, respectively. Conversely, LCU's offense has touched up opposing bullpens for an ERA of 7.70 in 138 innings.
 
FRIENDLY CONFINES
The Chaparrals will close out the 2021 season on their home field, playing this weekend's three games against UT Tyler and three next weekend against Oklahoma Christian. 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 is 7-8 on their own turf this year and the program is 1,114-334 in home games all-time.
 
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 3,210 games throughout all those years, posting an overall program record of 2,161 wins and 1,063 losses in that time. Head coach Nathan Blackwood has been leading the program for 969 of those games, going 681-304.
 
SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS

• UT Tyler is currently fourth in the Lone Star Conference standings, but they are not eligible for the LSC Tournament as they are in their second and final year transitioning from NCAA Division II status
• The Patriots were highly successful at the D-III level even winning the national championship in 2018
• Riley Jepson and Jordan Gochenour power the UTT offense. Jepson leads the team with a .352 batting average, while Gochenour leads the LSC in walks drawn and has an on-base percentage of .497
• The Patriots have a pair of good relief arms in Nathan Holmes and A.J. Irvin, who both have sub-3.00 ERAs in 25.2 and 22.0 innings of work, respectively
• Jacob Blatney is the probable Friday night starter for UT Tyler, bringing in a 4.95 ERA and .287 opponent's batting average in 43.2 innings of work

 
THE SERIES WITH THE PATRIOTS
With UT Tyler playing at the D-III level for the first 16 years of their baseball program's existence, the 2020 season was the first time Lubbock Christian ever met them on the diamond. LCU lost the four-game series the teams played a year ago, but did salvage an 11-7 win in game two against the Patriots making them 1-3 in the all-time series.