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22_SB_GameDay_48_

LCU Opens 2022 NCAA Postseason Thursday Facing Angelo State

| By: Chris Due (chris.due@lcu.edu)

Lady Chaps Opening First NCAA Postseason Appearance Since 2017

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TYLER, Texas (May 12, 2022) – No.16 Lubbock Christian University opens play in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Thursday as the No.4-seed and facing No.5-seed No.7 Angelo State with a 3 p.m. scheduled first pitch in the four-team double-elimination tournament at Suddenlink Field.
NCAA DIVISION II SOFTBALL SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL
OPPONENT LOCATION CITY TIME WATCH STATS LCU STATS OPP. STATS
Angelo St. Suddenlink Field Tyler, Texas 3 p.m. Video Stats Season Season

WUNDERGROUND WEATHER: Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. Near record high temperatures. High 92F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Expected game-time temperature is 90, with a heat index of 92...

WATCH ONLINE: LSC Digital Network (Online or via OTT apps including Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Roku devices by searching "LSC Digital Network.")

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The Scenario
  • If LCU defeats Angelo State, LCU will play Friday at noon against the winner of Thursday's noon contest.
  • A loss would place LCU into an elimination game scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m. against the losing team of Thursday's noon game.
 
LCU and ASU Series Snapshot
  • Angelo State is 9-2 all-time against LCU and have shutout the Lady Chaps in three of the 11 meetings.
  • Last season, ASU swept LCU (7-3 and 4-2 in San Angelo, Texas on May 2, 2021) and it marked the first meeting between the two programs since 2017, which is a season the two teams met five times and ASU won all five meetings.
  • LCU and ASU split a LSC series on April 30, with ASU winning the opener 10-6 before LCU claimed a 9-4 win in the second game.
  • Angelo State was nationally ranked in nine of the prior 10 meetings, with the lone meeting unranked resulting in an LCU win: 5-1 on Feb. 12, 2016 in Canyon, Texas.
  • Tiarra Delrosario is 6-of-8 (.750) this season and in her career against ASU.
  • Kasey Flores (3-for-6) and Skylar Herrera (7-for-14) are each hitting .500 all-time against ASU. Flores has two home runs and five RBI against ASU this season, while Herrera has appeared in four career games against ASU (7-for-14).
  • Maxine Valdez has a 1-0 career mark in two career appearances against ASU and holds nine strikeouts in 7.2 innings.
 
How is the Team Doing?
  • LCU is 37-10 this season and finished 23-7 in LSC play. They had an 18-game win streak earlier in the season, which was their longest win streak since a 19-game win streak since 2014.
  • The Lady Chaps are hitting .343 as a team (15th nationally), with 62 home runs (10th nationally and eighth in home runs per game, 1.32) and 70 doubles (total ranks 84th nationally and their rate of 1.49 per game ranks 72nd nationally) in 47 games. LCU averages 7.2 runs a contest (ninth nationally).
  • In the circle, LCU has an ERA of 2.62 (51st nationally). Opponents are hitting .218 against LCU this season (leads the LSC).
  • The Lady Chaps are 20th in shutouts, with 12, and five of LCU's shutouts are no-hitters. LCU co-leads the nation with five no-hitters.
  • LCU is 15th nationally in stolen bases per game (2.55) and 165th in fielding percentage (.953). They are 28th nationally with 19 double plays turned.
 
Who is Doing What?
  • LCU has four All-South Central Region selections combined by the NFCA and D2CCA. LCU has a program single-season high with two D2CCA selections and matches a program single-season high with three NFCA selections.
  • Taylor Franco is the first Lady Chaps member all-time to become a two-time NFCA All-Region recipient and the second two-time D2CCA All-Region honoree, joining Katera Eltsosie (2016, 2017). Franco is a member of the Top-50 Watch List for the Player & Pitcher of the Year by Schutt Sports and the NFCA, who claimed LSC Pitcher of the Year and First Team All-Conference honors this season. She is 19-4 this season, which has her co-leading the Lone Star Conference and entering the week ranked tied for 27th nationally in victories. A two-time LSC Pitcher of the Week has a program career record in no-hitters (five) and a single-season record with four this season (including a no-hitter over No.1 UT Tyler Mar. 27). She became the 18th pitcher in Division II history to complete at least four no-hitters in a single season and she is joined by Katie Burawski of Bridgeport as the only players this season in Division II to complete four no-hitters. Her no-hitters are part of eight shutouts this season (program has 12 and ranks 23rd nationally), which has her with a program-record 22 in her LCU career (ranks eighth among active Division II pitchers). Franco ranks second in the LSC in hits allowed per seven innings (4.93, 39th nationally) and is second in complete games (15), seventh in WHIP (1.05) and strikeouts (135) and 11th in ERA (2.30). Entering the NCAA regionals, Franco has 54 wins in her LCU career, which is third in program history and tied for 22nd among active Division II players. She also ranks second all-time in program history in appearances (99, 33rd among active Division II pitchers), complete games (49), pitching starts (81, 24th among active Division II pitchers), innings pitched (493.0, 30th among active Division II pitchers) and strikeouts (408, 35th among active Division II pitchers) and tied for second in saves (7, 15th among active Division II pitchers). Over her career, Franco has a 2.10 ERA (35th among active Division II pitchers) and a pace of 5.79 strikeouts per seven innings (29th among active Division II pitchers).
  • Pitcher Maxine Valdez is 13-4 this season with a 2.13 ERA in 121.2 innings pitched. She ranks seventh in the LSC in hits allowed per seven innings (4.9) and fourth in the LSC in strikeouts with 143 (8.2 per seven innings ranks fourth in the LSC and 46th nationally). During an Apr. 1 contest at Texas Woman's, Valdez completed her second career no-hitter, which was the program's 23rd all-time and fifth of the season.
  • Savannah Wysocki has seven triples on the season and 22 in her LCU career, which actively leads NCAA Division II in career triples. The seven triples on the season ranks eighth in all of Division II. Wysocki, with 28 stolen bases this season, has 86 in her career, ranking 16th among active career NCAA Division II leaders (all-time leader in program history). The El Paso, Texas native's 28 stolen bases this season ranks 28th nationally (fourth in the LSC).
  • Angela Donaldson enters the series leading LCU hitting .457 on the season, which leads the LSC. The All-Region selection ranks fifth in the LSC in on-base percentage (.500) and has racked up a perfect 16-for-16 in stolen base attempts. She matched a single-game program record May 7 at the LSC Championships with a five-hit game.
  • Tyla Lee is hitting .379 on the season. She has posted 55 hits and 45 RBI (19 with two outs). She ranks tied for ninth in the LSC in RBI and is tied for fifth in hit-by-pitch (9).
  • LCU claimed six LSC weekly honors this season. Taylor Franco (Pitcher, Feb. 15, Mar. 28), Tyla Lee (Hitter, Feb. 22 and Mar. 8) and Kasey Flores (Hitter, Mar. 1 and May 2) have each claimed weekly accolades this season.
  • Kasey Flores leads LCU in home runs with 17 (second in the LSC and eighth nationally). Flores sits 14th actively among NCAA Division II leaders in home runs with 40 (the mark includes her UTEP totals). The All-Region selection has 53 RBI this season (fourth in the LSC), with a team-leading 25 produced with two outs. She leads LCU with 16 multi-RBI games.
  • Skylar Herrera is second on the squad with 11 homers (ninth in the LSC) and has 13 stolen bases on the season (51 in her career). Herrera ranks 13th in the LSC with a .672 slugging mark and she has 12 multi-RBI games this season.
  • LCU is 22nd nationally in triples (17), with Savannah Wysocki sixth in the nation with seven triples and Brooke Makemson behind her with four triples (tied for seventh in the LSC).
  • Tyla Lee, Brooke Makemson and Angela Donaldson each co-lead LCU in multi-hit games (16). Kasey Flores leads LCU with 13 multi-RBI games, with Makemson and Skylar Herrera (each with 12) behind Flores in the category.

Season Expectations
  • The Lady Chaps are preseason picked to finish seventh in the Lone Star Conference.
  • LCU is in their eighth season playing a NCAA Division II schedule (2013 was their last season in NAIA) and this is their third season as members of the Lone Star Conference.
  • There are 16 softball programs in the LSC this season. The major difference from last season to this season is UT Tyler is postseason eligible.

Coach Talk
  • LCU head coach Daren Hays is in his 12th season at the helm of the Lady Chaps.
  • Hays is LCU's winningest softball head coach, entering the weekend with a softball record of 484-155.
  • Along with surpassing 475 coaching wins in softball, Hays had surpassed 350 wins as a collegiate baseball head coach. He spent eight seasons as the LCU baseball head coach and compiled a 356-163 record.

Neutralize
  • LCU is 6-3 this season in neutral site contests.
  • The Lady Chaps are hitting .344 (10 home runs) in neutral site tilts, and contributing a 3.29 ERA in the circle (opponents hitting .245).  
  • Angela Donaldson (14-for-24) leads LCU with a .583 average in neutral site games, with Tyla Lee (16-for-29) also hitting over .552.
  • Lee leads LCU in neutral site games with 13 RBI and has a .897 slugging mark.
  • Maxine Valdez has a 2.40 ERA with a 4-2 record and 38 strikeouts in 35.0 innings. Opponents are hitting .214 against her. Taylor Franco is 2-0 at neutral sites.
 
South Central Regional Breakdown
  • This tournament marks LCU's third tournament appearance in the NCAA postseason. LCU previous received automatic berths in 2016 (San Antonio, Texas) and 2017 (San Angelo, Texas) after winning Heartland Conference Tournament titles.
  • LCU is 1-4 all-time at the NCAA South Central Regionals. Their lone win was a 14-11 win on May 12, 2017 in San Angelo against Cameron.
  • Sydney Beuthien is LCU's all-time leader in NCAA postseason play, as she hit .533 (8-for-15) in five NCAA games. She posted four home runs and seven RBI in NCAA postseason play, which leads LCU all-time in career NCAA postseason numbers.
  • Monique Garcia went 1-0 all-time with a 2.00 ERA in two appearances and has LCU's lone win in the circle in NCAA postseason play.

Lone Star Conference Breakdown
  • This season is LCU's third season in the LSC.
  • LCU is 45-23 all-time in LSC play.
  • The Lady Chaps went 23-7 this season in conference contests. They opened conference play 4-0 for their best conference start since 2015. Their 23-7 record in LSC play led to a share of second place in the LSC standings.
  • LCU had at least 20 conference wins for the first time since 2013 and for the sixth time in program history.
  • They hit .338 in conference, with 41 home runs and an average of 7.0 runs per game. In the circle, they had a 2.86 ERA and opponents hit .220.
  • Angela Donaldson led LCU in conference play, hitting .432 in conference (35 hits, which trailed only Tiarra Delrosario, who had 38).
  • Kasey Flores had 38 RBI in LSC play and is led LCU with 12 home runs in conference.
  • Taylor Franco (11-4) led LCU in conference in wins in the circle. Mattye Tyler (5-1) and Maxine Valdez (7-2) have combined for 12 conference wins. Valdez leads LCU with a 2.20 ERA in conference, with Franco holding a 2.45 ERA in LSC play (opponents hitting .184 against Franco) and has three saves in conference.
  • Lone Star Conference All-Conference Recipients (additional honors listed)… Nine Lady Chaps honored marks the most since they had 10 all-conference selections in 2013.

National Notes
  • The Lady Chaps went 8-0 last season against nationally ranked programs in 2020, but went 2-10 against nationally ranked programs in 2021.
  • LCU is 7-8 this season against nationally ranked programs. They have four wins against top-10 programs, which is the most since 2015.
  • Top 25 Wins:
    • No.14 Rogers State (13-5 in five innings on Feb. 20 in Oklahoma City)
    • No.18 Oklahoma Christian (doubleheader sweep on Friday, 4-3 and 8-7).
    • Mar. 12, they defeated No.6 West Texas A&M at home.
    • Mar. 27, they no-hit No.1 UT Tyler at home.
    • No.7 Texas A&M-Kingsville (4-3 on Apr. 8 in Kingsville, Texas)
    • No.7 Angelo State (9-4 on Apr. 30 at home)
  • On Mar.1, LCU made their debut in the NFCA national Top-25 rankings, debuting at No.15. They moved up to No.10 on Mar. 21 for their best ranking since joining NCAA Division II (2016 season). They enter this week ranked No.16.
 
Streaking Along
  • Brooke Makemson co-leads LCU actively on a six-game hit streak. Tiarra Delrosario has the longest hit streak this season at 17 games.
  • Savannah Wysocki actively leads LCU with a nine-game streak of reaching base safely (She had a 25-game streak earlier this season for the longest streak this season).

In Summary
  • LCU has a 43-25 scoring advantage in the first inning, with their highest offensive output coming in the fifth innings as they have 69 runs in the inning (outscoring foes 69-18 in the inning).
  • The Lady Chaps have scored in the first inning in 17 games this season and are 17-0 when doing so. LCU is 29-2 when scoring first.
  • LCU is 29-4 this season when they hit at least one home run in a game (17-0 when hitting two or more in a game).
  • The Lady Chaps are 13-1 this season when error free.
  • In tight contests, LCU has an 8-2 record in one-run games.

Looking at ASU
  • The Belles received an at-large bid with a 38-10 regular season record. Like LCU, the Belles fell in the Quarterfinals of the LSC Championships last week in Tyler.
  • They went 37-8 last season, finishing third in the LSC with a 22-8 conference mark. ASU qualified for the NCAA Div. II South Central Regional, where they went 0-2.
  • This tournament marks the Belles 17th NCAA postseason appearance. They are on a program-record four-game losing streak in NCAA postseason play and present a 62-32 all-time NCAA postseason record. They last made a NCAA World Series appearance in 2018.
  • ASU is hitting .315 this season and have 68 home runs on the season. They have a staff ERA of 2.97 and opponents are hitting .253 against them.
  • They are 5-2 in neutral site contests this season.
  • ASU is 7-7 this season against nationally ranked opponents.
  • The Belles rank seventh nationally in walk, accumulating 202 on the season. Ashlyn Lerma is 18th nationally with a pace of .73 walks per game.
  • Paxton Scheurer, who is third nationally with a conference leading 22 home runs, ranks third nationally with 70 RBI.
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