LUBBOCK, Texas - Lubbock Christian returns home to kick off March, facing Oklahoma Christian in a four-game Lone Star Conference series, beginning on Friday, Mar. 3.

Oklahoma Christian (7-6, 7-5 LSC) at Lubbock Christian (10-6, 10-6 LSC)
Friday, Mar. 3 - 5:00 PM
Saturday, Mar. 4 - 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM
Sunday, Mar. 5 - 1:00 PM
Lubbock, Texas - Hays Field

LEADING OFF 
Lubbock Christian is coming off a 3-1 series victory against Arkansas Fort Smith. In the first game of the series, the Chaps shut out the Lions 3-0 in seven-innings, thanks to a complete game performance from Aydan Alger, who allowed just two hits and struck out nine. In game two, the Chaparrals held a 7-2 lead in the eighth inning, but the Lions scored five runs to send the contest to extras. Sam Shank's sac fly in the top of the 15th scored Bo Hogeboom as the Chaps won 9-8 in what was tied for the longest game in program history. After dropping an 11-4 decision, Ryan Markwardt and Tyler Manyo combined to shut out UAFS 11-0 in game four to take the series. Markwardt went 6.0 innings, allowing two hits, walking two and striking out 12, while Manyo earned his second save of the weekend, going 3.0 innings, allowing one hit and striking out three. 
 
THE CHAPARRAL NINE
• Lubbock Christian leads the conference with 147 runs scored, the fifth-most in D-II
• The Chap infield defense has been fantastic this season, as the group's 16 double plays are third in the country and lead the LSC
• Chris Shull is second in the conference and tenth in Division-II with 23 total RBI, while his teammate Nate Van Maanen ranks fifth in the conference and 22nd in D-II with 21 RBI. 
• Eduardo Acosta leads the conference and all of Division-II with 29 runs and is third in the conference in batting average (.444)

ACOASTING
Eduardo Acosta has been raking at the dish this season as he leads the conference and the country with 29 runs and is third in the LSC in batting average (.444). His 28 total hits are the third-most in the LSC this season and rank 10th in Division-II. Acosta's 17 RBI are the eighth-most in the Lone Star Conference.

THAT'S OFFENSIVE
LCU has scored at will this season, as the Chaparrals 147 total runs are the most in the Lone Star Conference and fifth in Division-II. The Chaps' 173 hits are second in the conference and eighth in the country. Lubbock Christian is second in the nation with 11 triples, as Acosta, Ogilvie and Shull lead the conference individually with two apiece. The team's 40 doubles lead the LSC and 4th in D-II with Ogilvie leading the country with ten doubles so far this season. Chris Shull is second in the conference and tenth in Division-II with 23 total RBI, while his teammate Nate Van Maanen ranks fifth in the conference and 22nd in D-II with 21 RBI.  

ON THE MARK
Ryan Markwardt leads the LCU staff and is third in the Lone Star Conference with three wins this season. In his last outing at Arkansas Fort Smith, Markwardt pitched six shutout innings, giving up just two hits, walking a pair and striking out 12 batters. His 30 strikeouts this season are tied for the fifth-most in the conference, while his 3.86 ERA is 12th in the conference.

YO MANYO
Tyler Manyo has been a solid closer for the Chaparrals this season, earning three saves, including two this weekend at UAFS. In his first appearance in the 15th inning against the Lions, Manyo struck out one batter and ended the marathon matchup with a 1-2-3 inning to preserve the 9-8 win. Manyo pitched three innings on Feb. 24 in an 11-0 win for the Chaps, walking one and striking out three batters, allowing one hit on just 40 pitches. Manyo's three saves are tied for the most in the conference.

PITCHER'S BEST FRIEND
Pitchers on the LCU staff 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 16 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 saw his hitting streak of 22 games snapped on Feb. 17 against UT Tyler, going 0-for-3. Ogilvie also saw his hit streak end at 14 straight games, also going 0-for-3 on Feb. 17. The longest hitting streak now belongs to Brevin McCool, having recorded a hit in nine straight games. Acosta leads the Chaps in reaching base, having reached base in 30 straight games. Shull and Van Maanen saw their impressive hit streaks end against UAFS of 15 and 14 games respectively, but both have reached base in 16 straight games.

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 5-3 on their home turf, and the program is 1,142-348 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 3,304 games throughout all those years, posting an overall program record of 2,211 wins and 1,093 losses in that time. For the last 20 seasons, it has been head coach Nathan Blackwood leading the program, and he has a 732-334 record in that time. 

SCOUTING THE EAGLES
- Oklahoma Christian enters the contest 7-6 overall and 7-5 in the Lone Star Conference. The Eagles split a four-game set against St. Mary last weekend, before dropping a midweek contest against no. 10 Central Oklahoma on Feb. 28. 
- Naut Kragt is the ace for OC, as his 2.84 ERA is seventh in the Lone Star Conference. As a team, the Eagles have a team ERA of 5.16, the fourth-best in the LSC. 
- The Eagles rarely make mistakes in the field, as their .974 fielding percentage is third in the conference, committing just 11 errors this year. Opponents have not had success trying to steal bases against OC this year, as the Eagles have gunned out seven runners on 12 stolen base attempts this year.
- Blake Empkey leads OC in batting average, hitting .373 this season. Empkey has five doubles, three home runs and 10 RBI.
- Lonny Cobble began serving as Oklahoma Christian's 13th head coach in May 2012, tabbed to help the OC program transition into NCAA Division II status. In his 10 seasons, Cobble has developed the Eagles into consistent Lone Star Conference contenders, posting a 261-215-1 career mark (a .548 winning percentage). He's also coached the OC program's first two players to advance the Triple-A level of professional baseball, Cale Coshow and Hunter Markwardt.

THE SERIES WITH THE EAGLES
In a series that dates back to 1971, LCU leads the series 70-23-1. The Chaps have won six straight games over the Eagles, and 13 of the last 15. Lubbock Christian is 34-7 all-time at home against OC, but the Eagles did take a road win on May 7, 2021, knocking off the Chaparrals 11-7. 

UP NEXT
The Chaps will head back on the road to San Antonio, facing St. Mary's in a four-game LSC series. First pitch for game one is set for 6:00 PM on Friday, Mar. 10.