Baseball | 04.21.2022
LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (29-13, 27-13, LSC) vs.
UT PERMIAN BASIN (12-29, 11-29 LSC)
Friday, April 22 – 6 p.m.
Hays Field – Lubbock, Texas
LEADING OFF
Lubbock Christian has played 22 games at the friendly confines of Hays Field so far this season and they have just four left on the regular season schedule, hosting UT Permian Basin for a series this weekend. The Chaps have split in three out of the last four series they have played, including last weekend when they went on the road against Cameron and dropped the first two games before bouncing back with wins in the second two. Both of LCU's wins over the Aggies were by double-digits, as they continue to lead the Lone Star Conference in total bases (763) and slugging percentage (.566), while ranking third in the league in batting average (.331) and runs (345).
THE CHAPARRAL NINE
- Lubbock Christian has gotten eight complete games from pitchers, which is the most in the LSC
- LCU's slugging percentage of .566 is also the eighth-best mark in all of NCAA Division II
- UTPB has a staff ERA of 10.11 this season, which is the worst in the conference
- The Chaps are hosting the Falcons in Lubbock for the first time since the 2016 season
- UT Permian Basin split a series last weekend against St. Mary's, winning both games in walkoff fashion
- Eduardo Acosta ranks No. 6 nationally in runs scored with 57
- The Chaps will wrap up the regular season next weekend with four games at UT Tyler
- LCU ranks third in the conference with a winning percentage of .675, ahead of Texas A&M-Kingsville
SENIOR SERIES
This weekend will be the final series at home for the Chaparrals in the regular season, so they will celebrate their graduating players throughout the series, culminating with senior day recognition prior to Sunday's series finale. There are 14 players who will be graduating from the LCU squad this year, including 12 seniors and two juniors who will be leaving early.
Cade Acrey,
Larry Leitha,
George Mendazona,
Edgar Hernandez,
Steven Dennis,
Grant Griffin,
Shandon Herrera,
Luis Navarro,
Mason Donohoe,
Ty Stephenson,
Cayde Ward,
Cannon Davis,
Armando Valle and
Tanner Bercier make up the graduating class.
I'VE GOT THE POWER
Three of the top five home run hitters in the Lone Star Conference are members of the Chaparral baseball team. LCU has clubbed 65 round-trippers on the year overall, which leads the LSC (by 20) and ranks No. 14 nationally. Leitha leads the way with 13 homers, tying for the league's individual lead. Navarro is also in double-figures with 10, and Mendazona is fifth in the conference with nine. Acosta,
Mason Donohoe and
Jarred Gibson all have at least five, and 14 LCU players have homered this season. The Chaps also rank second in the league in triples (17) and they are tied for fourth in doubles (88).
TWIN KILLING
Lubbock Christian turned another four double plays last weekend against Cameron, bringing their season total to 35. They are four behind the conference leader St. Mary's, which has turned 39 double plays on the year. It also ranks No. 10 nationally. Earlier this season, they turned five in one game against West Texas A&M, which tied the program record. LCU's pitchers do lean far more heavily on the ground ball, getting 358 groundouts to just 257 flyouts.
Caden Hensley (2B) and
Carson Ogilvie (SS) make up the middle infield, and
George Mendazona has started all but one game at third base.
TABLE-SETTERS
In order to score a lot of runs, which LCU does, it helps to get your leadoff batter on base. The Chaps have been very successful in that task, putting leadoff batters on at a .442 clip. That includes last week against Cameron, when the Chaps put the leadoff man on in 17 of 30 chances for a .567 on-base percentage. Acosta has batted in the leadoff spot in 35 of the 42 games and has an OBP of .407 when leading off.
Caden Hensley has been the best on the team at reaching base in leadoff opportunities with a .571 OBP (16-28). Leitha, Navarro and
Brevin McCool all have leadoff OBPs over .500 as well.
STARTING STRONG
Lubbock Christian leads the conference and ranks No. 3 nationally in complete games this season with eight. All eight of them have come from
Shandon Herrera and
Ethan Coombes, who both tossed CGs in the series against the Aggies. Herrera and Coombes have consistently appeared on the doubleheader day, meaning the games are just seven innings long. Their appearances are bookended by
Tyler Hardwick in the series-opener and
Ty Stephenson in the finale each weekend.
Armando Valle is the only pitcher who has been used in a starting role this season. Chaparral starting pitching has combined for a 5.84 ERA and .282 opponent's batting average.
SWIPER NO SWIPNG
LCU has a stable of good catchers at their disposal this season, rotating Navarro, Gibson and
Jaxson Edwards behind the dish. The trio has combined to catch 17 runners stealing, which is tied for the most in the conference. Furthermore, the Chaps have allowed opponents to steal bases at a success rate of just .696, which is the second-best mark in the conference. Gibson and Edwards have each caught six runners stealing, and Navarro is close behind with four. The other runner caught by the Chaps was from a pitcher. Hardwick has the lowest stolen base percentage from opponents on the mound, having given up just three in seven attempts.
STREAKS AND MULTIS
Mendazona comes into this weekend with the longest active reached-base streak on the team at 18 games. He is four shy of matching Gibson's 22-game streak that started the season and is the longest reached base streak by a Chap this season. Mendazona also leads the team in multi-hit games with 20. Navarro has the most multi-RBI games at 13, and Acosta has the longest active hitting streak at eight games.
FRIENDLY CONFINES
Lubbock Christian has played 22 of their 26-game home slate for the 2022 season heading into this weekend's games. 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 16-6 on their home turf this year, and the program is 1,133-343 in home games all-time. Mendazona, Donohoe, Navarro and Acosta are all hitting above .400 at home this season.
2000 & 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 3,273 games throughout all those years, posting an overall program record of 2,196 wins and 1,082 losses in that time. For the last 18 seasons, it has been head coach
Nathan Blackwood leading the program, and he has a 717-323 record in that time.
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
- Although their .287 batting average ranks just eighth in the LSC, UT Permian Basin has clubbed 43 home runs this season, which is the third-most in the league
- UTPB's only series win so far this season came against Arkansas-Fort Smith, who they beat three out of four games by a combined score of 42-35
- Devin Ferrari leads the Falcon offense with a batting average of .360, including nine doubles, four triples and seven home runs
- UTPB does field the ball well, ranking sixth in the LSC (right behind the Chaps) with a .963 fielding percentage
- The Falcons do not run much, having stolen only 23 bases (11th-most in the conference) on 30 attempts
THE SERIES WITH THE FALCONS
Lubbock Christian and UT Permian Basin have faced off on the diamond 32 times since the all-time series began in 2005, with LCU leading 28-4. The Chaps took the first 13 meetings before a Falcon win in 2012. UTPB does have one series win over LCU in 2015, taking two out of three, but the Chaps have won eight of the nine meetings since then.
