LUBBOCK, Texas - Lubbock Christian returns to Hays Field, hosting the soaring UT Tyler Patriots in an early conference test with a four-game series beginning on Friday, Feb. 17.

UT Tyler (6-2, 6-2 LSC) at Lubbock Christian (5-3, 5-3 LSC)
Game One - Feb. 17 - 4:00 PM
Game Two & Three - Feb. 18 - 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM
Game Four - Feb. 19 - 1:00 PM
Lubbock, Texas - Hays Field

LEADING OFF 
Lubbock Christian is coming off a split in the series against Texas Permian Basin. It is the first time the Chaps have not won a series over Texas Permian Basin since the 2015 season, when the Falcons took two out of three from Lubbock Christian. It is also the first time the Chaps have lost in extra innings to the Falcons, and the first time LCU has lost in extras since falling to Texas A&M-Kingsville 7-6 in eleven innings on Mar. 20, 2021. For the series, Carson Ogilvie went 9-for-16 (.563 BA) with five RBI, six runs, and four doubles against the Falcons this weekend. Chris Shull also had a solid series, batting 7-for-15 (.467 BA) with six RBI, four runs, and a home run. UT Tyler enters the weekend on a six-game winning streak, and have won three of the last four games against the Chaps.

THE CHAPARRAL NINE
• Lubbock Christian has never won a series against the Patriots. UT Tyler is also 5-2 all-time at Hays Field
• The LCU defense held UTPB to just three runs and scored 25 runs of their own in a doubleheader sweep over UTPB on Feb. 11. Andrew Duran went all seven innings in game two, striking out eight and allowing two hits.
• Chris Shull leads the conference and is sixth in Division-II with 17 total RBI, while his teammate Nate Van Maanen ranks second in the conference and 10th in D-II with 15 RBI. 
• Jacob Gutierrez hit his first home run of the season on Feb. 11 vs UTPB

ACOASTING
Eduardo Acosta has been consistent at the plate this season, as his .515 batting average ranks fourth in the conference. His 17 total hits are the third-most of any batter so far in Division-II this season, and his 16 runs scored are the second-most in the country. Acosta's twelve RBI are 21st in the country and fourth in the Lone Star Conference.

THAT'S OFFENSIVE
LCU has scored at will this season, as the Chaparrals 80 total runs in eight games are the second most in the Lone Star Conference and sixth in Division-II. The Chaps' 93 hits so far are first in the conference and fourth in the country. Lubbock Christian is tied with Lynn for the most triples in Division-II with six, while the team's 20 doubles are second in the LSC and 11th in D-II. Chris Shull leads the conference and is sixth in Division-II with 17 total RBI, while his teammate Nate Van Maanen ranks second in the conference and 10th in D-II with 15 RBI. 

DON'T RUN
This season, the Chaps have caught five runners trying to steal base, tied with Oklahoma Christian for the most in the Lone Star Conference. Bo Hogeboom gunned out a pair of runners in his first start behind the plate for Lubbock Christian vs Cameron on Feb. 3, and also gunned out a runner at UTPB. Pitchers Aydan Alger and Marcos Escalera have also snuffed out attempts with pickoff moves against the Aggies

DURAN DURAN
Andrew Duran tossed the first complete game for the Chaps this season, going 7.0 innings in a 9-1 win over UTPB on Saturday, Feb. 11. The Rio Rancho, N.M. native allowed just two hits and one run, walking two batters and striking out eight.

PITCHER'S BEST FRIEND
All of the pitchers on LCU's staff, however, have benefited from a solid infield defense behind them. Acosta at third, Carson Ogilvie at shortstop and Caden Hensley and Ryan Ball have split playing time at second so far this season. Nate Van Maanen and Jarred Gibson have split time at first base. The Chaparral infield has turned 10 double plays so far this season, the most in the LSC and the third most in all of Division-II.

REGIONALLY RECOGNIZED
In the NCBWA preseason regional poll, the Chaps were voted seventh, earning 28 points. It is the first time the Chaps have been ranked in the NCBWA preseason region poll since 2018, when LCU was picked second in the initial region rankings. Eduardo Acosta earned All-Region Team honors for the first time in his career. Acosta is the first Chap to earn NCBWA Preseason All-Region honors since Chandler Casey and Andrew Pratt were named to the team in 2019.
Acosta was also the first Chap to be honored with a regional weekly award from the NCBWA since Chandler Casey earned South Central Region Pitcher of the Week on May 1, 2019, being named NCBWA Region Hitter of the Week on Feb. 8.

STREAKS AND MULTIS
Acosta is the team leader in both hit streak and reached base streak for the Chaps, Acosta has recorded a hit in 22 straight games dating back to last season, including five hits with five RBI and four runs on Feb. 5 vs Cameron. Ogilvie has reached in 20 straight games, the second-most on the team. He has recorded a hit in 14 straight games, including a 3-for-5 outing with three runs and four RBI on Feb. 11 at UTPB

FRIENDLY CONFINES
Lubbock Christian will play a 26-game home schedule this season. 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 currently 3-1 on their home turf, and the program is 1,140-346 in home games all-time. LCU won 20 home games last season for the first time since 2018 after having back-to-back losing seasons inside of Hays Field.

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 3,296 games throughout all those years, posting an overall program record of 2,206 wins and 1,090 losses in that time. For the last 20 seasons, it has been head coach Nathan Blackwood leading the program, and he has a 727-331 record in that time. 

SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS
- UT Tyler enters the weekend 6-2 overall and in the Lone Star Conference having won six games in a row. The Patriots won the last two games against Oklahoma Christian before sweeping St. Mary's last weekend.
- The Patriots have scored via the long ball, hitting 13 total homers this season, the fifth-most in the country. Kaston Mason ranks second in Division-II and leads the conference with five dingers so far.
- UT Tyler has found multiple ways to get on base safely, leading the conference and ranking 12th in D-II in on-base percentage, with an OBP of .466. Carson Cox, Austin Ochoa, and Tres Thomas have both drawn seven walks each.
- Jordan Gochenour ranks fourth in the LSC with 16 hits. His .516 batting average leads the conference.
- Brent Porche enters his seventh season as head coach of UT Tyler baseball in 2022-2023 and his 11th season overall as a head coach at the collegiate level. Porche has led the program to a 72-35 record in conference play over the course of the first three seasons in the LSC, and the Patriots finished atop the LSC standings with a 20-3 record in in 2020 prior to the cancellation of the remainder of the regular season.

THE SERIES WITH THE PATRIOTS
UT Tyler leads the all-time series 8-3 over LCU, having won three of the last four. The Patriots have won all three series they have played against the Chaps, including a 5-2 record at Hays Field. Six meetings between the two teams have been decided by four runs or less. 

UP NEXT
The Chaps make one of their longest road trips of the season next weekend, heading east to Arkansas Fort Smith for a four-game set against the Lions. Game one is set for a 1:00 PM start on Feb. 24.