Lubbock Christian (18-15, 17-15) vs.
Texas A&M-Kingsville (21-15, 22-16)
April 6-8 - Hays Field - Lubbock, Texas
 
WARMING UP
It's a quicker turnaround than normal for the Lubbock Christian University baseball team, as the return to the diamond for a series against Texas A&M-Kingsville Thursday through Saturday this weekend at Hays Field. The Chaps currently sit in sixth in the Lone Star Conference standings after a split at Texas A&M International last weekend in which they won each of the first two games but dropped the second two. The Javelinas enter on a three-game win streak after a series victory against St. Mary's last week, and they sit one spot ahead of the Chaps in league play, making this a pivotal series for conference tournament seeding.
 
 
FIRST PITCH

• Chap shortstop Carson Ogilvie leads the LSC and ranks No. 5 nationally with five triples
• Lubbock Christian has scored exactly 300 runs so far this season, which is the fourth most in the conference
• Texas A&M-Kingsville's team ERA of 6.61 is the third-best mark in the conference, although it is a full two runs higher than second-place St. Edward's (4.31)
• LCU's team batting average is almost 20 points higher (.324) against right-handed pitching that it is against southpaws (.305)
• Earlier this week, Texas A&M-Kingsville played an exhibition against the Corpus Christi Hooks, the Double-A Affiliate of the Houston Astros. They lost 8-1

 
PITCHER'S BEST FRIEND
Although the LCU pitching staff ranks in the bottom half of the conference with an ERA of 7.88, they have helped the Chaps excel in one area in particular, ranking No. 11 nationally in double plays turned. Chap hurlers have induced and LCU infielders have turned 27 double plays this season, despite not being a particularly ground ball heavy team. LCU pitchers have gotten 137 outs on the ground compared to just 115 through the air. Ayden Alger is the most ground ball dependent Chap pitcher with 32 groundouts to just 13 flyouts. LCU's fielding percentage of .958 is right in the middle of the LSC, with a middle infield usually comprising of Ogilvie and either Caden Hensley or Sam Shank.
 
CAUGHT RED-HANDED
Chap pitchers have also been helped out by the guys behind the plate, with LCU catchers recording 17 caught stealings so far this year – third-most in the LSC. Jarred Gibson, Bo Hogeboom and Jaxson Edwards have split time at catcher with Gibson getting most of the starts. They have allowed stolen bases at just a 72.1 percent clip, and Gibson caught two runners stealing last weekend against Texas A&M International. He has now gunned down eight runners, followed by Edwards with four and Hogeboom with three.
 
RIGHT ON THE MARK(WARDT)
Junior left-handed pitcher Ryan Markwardt turned in his best outing in a Chaparral uniform last Saturday against the Dustdevils, tossing a complete-game shutout in a 1-0 LCU win. The Itasca, Texas native needed just 76 pitches to get through the game, allowing only four hits and walking one while striking out three batters. Just once did a TAMIU batter reach third base. It was the first complete game for Markwardt, but the second shutout he has been a part of. He has  5.32 ERA this season and is tied for the team lead with 45.2 innings of work.
 
HEAVY HITTERS
Past the halfway point in the 2023 season, Lubbock Christian boasts the third-best offense in the league, averaging 9.1 runs per game. The Chaps rank in the top 25 nationally in batting average (No. 16), doubles (No. 7), hits (No. 19), sacrifice flies (No. 14), slugging percentage (No. 11) and triples (No. 6). Leading the LCU offense is Eduardo Acosta, who is third in the league with a .429 batting average. Ogilvie also ranks third in the LSC in runs scored with 47, and Nate Van Maanen is tied for third with 46 RBI.
 
BODY BLOWS
There's no way around it, Chap pitchers have struggled with one major problem this season – hitting batters. LCU's staff has hit 64 opposing batters (12^th-most nationally), including nine in the four games against Texas A&M International. On March 25 against Angelo State, they hit nine in one game. Six different Chap hurlers have hit at least five batters this year.
 
FRIENDLY CONFINES
This weekend's series will mark four of the final nine games at Hays Field this season, where they Chaps currently have a 9-8 record. 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. The program is 1,146-353 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 at Hays Field.
 
LET IT FLY
With the elevation of Lubbock (3,202 feet) up on the Llano Estacado and the way the wind blows on many spring days, Hays Field is a great place for hitting. Despite playing only one more home game than road game to this point in the season, the Chaps have hit 25 of their 40 home runs (62.5 percent) at the friendly confines. The team bats 81 points better at home (.373 vs. .292) and the slugging percentage is a whopping 167 points higher (.626 vs. .459). Acosta sees the most drastic split individually, with a .530 home batting average and a .317 average on the road.
 
BIG LEAGUE CONNECTION
Major League Baseball began last season, and while there are no former Chaps at the big league level right now, LCU does have ties to several coaches in the minor league ranks. Former Chap shortstop Buck Britton is in his second season as the manager of the Norfolk Tides, who are the Triple-A Affiliate for the Baltimore Orioles. Also at the Triple-A level is former Chap catcher Wigberto Nevarez, who is on the coaching staff for the Gwinett Stripers of the Atlanta Braves organization. Finally, former LCU graduate assistant Andy Schatzley, who is coming off a Southern League Manager of the Year award in 2022, returns to the helm of the Rocket City Trash Pandas – the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
 
THE SERIES WITH THE JAVELINAS
Texas A&M-Kingsville has only made the trip to Lubbock one time before, in 2021 when they took two of three from the Chaps. The Javelinas lead the all-time series 10-6, but the Chaps have had the upper hand in the last two series. LCU took three of four in Kingsville last year and ended the Javelinas' season in 2021, winning two of three in Kingsville in the opening round of the LSC Tournament.
 
SCOUTING THE JAVELINAS

• TAMUK's team batting average of .308 ranks right in the middle of the Lone Star Conference
• The Javelina offense is led by Nick Wolff, who bats .408 and ranks second in the league with 52 runs batted in
• Marco Martinez is the top-used reliever for TAMUK, with a 3.67 ERA in 27 innings of work spread across 14 relief outings
• Opposing teams are hitting just .277 against the Texas A&M-Kingsville pitching staff, which is the third-best mark in the LSC
• TAMUK has already won six series this year, including their last three  against Arkansas-Fort Smith, Oklahoma Christian and St. Mary's