No 6-seed LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (19-22) at
No. 3-seed TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE (21-10)
Saturday, May 15 – 1 p.m.
Nolan Ryan Field – Kingsville, Texas
 
LEADING OFF
Lubbock Christian University, as the old cliche goes, has its back against the wall. The Chaparrals battled hard on Friday night but ultimately lost game one of the best-of-three Lone Star Conference Tournament series 9-4, meaning the will need to win two times today to keeping playing baseball in 2021. Pitching will be key for both teams in a ballpark that is not as friendly to offense, but the Chap hitters will also be looking to run up pitch counts and get into the Javelina bullpen as soon as possible.
 
STARTING PITCHING MATCHUP
LCU – Freshman Owen Woodward will get the ball in his biggest spot yet. Woodward has appeared I 13 games this season, including four starts. He has a 4.00 ERA in 45 innings of work, with 20 earned runs allowed on 39 hits and a team-second 48 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .229 against him. The Breckenridge native pitched out of the bullpen against Texas A&M-Kingsville in the regular season series between the teams, going 2.2 innings and allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out a pair of Javelinas. It will be an all hands-on deck situation to win the first game, with the second game starter to be determined afterwards.
 
TAMUK – Kolby Lunsford is the likely option for the Javelinas to take as a starter in game two of the series. He has a 4.62 ERA and a 3-4 record in 48.2 innings of work, mostly as a starting pitcher. He has yielded 33 runs (25 earned) on 55 hits with an opponents batting average of .272. He has very good command with just 13 walks compared to 39 strikeouts. Lunsford against the Chaps earlier this season allowed four runs on seven hits and a season-high three walks while striking out only two in 4.1 innings of work.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
.202 | Chap starting pitcher Owen Woodward has been especially good against right-handed batters this year, holding them to just 25 hits in 124 at-bats for a .202 batting average
24 | With patient at-bats on Friday, LCU first basemen Nolan Machibroda drew three walks to increase his season total to 24, which is the third-most on the team
.308 | After facing the lefty Logan Garza last night, the Chaps get a chance against right-hander Lunsford today. LCU has been better this season against righties with a .308 batting average, compared to a .292 average against left-handers
13-1 | A lead in the late innings will be important for the Chaps who are 13-1 when leading after the seventh or later, but just 2-19 when either tied or trailing after the seventh
53 | Luis Navarro crushed his ninth home run of the season on Friday, bringing the Chap season total to 53, which is the second-most in the LSC