GULF SHORES, Ala. (February 3, 2024) – Lubbock Christian University seeks their first win of the 2024 season Saturday, as they continue play in the Gulf Shores Invitational with a 10 a.m. contest against West Alabama and a 12:30 scheduled game against West Florida.
| GULF SHORES INVITATIONAL |
| OPPONENT |
LOCATION |
DAY |
TIME (CT) |
WATCH |
STATS |
| West Alabama |
Gulf Shores Sportsplex (Field 2) |
Sat. Feb. 3 |
10:00 a.m. |
None |
Stats |
| West Florida |
Gulf Shores Sportsplex (Field 2) |
Sat. Feb. 3 |
12:30 p.m. |
None |
Stats |
LCU and UWA Series Snapshot
- West Alabama leads the all-time series 1-0.
- LCU last faced UWU on Feb. 5, 2022 at the Gulf Shores Invitational, with West Alabama winning with a two-run walkoff bottom of the seventh inning for a 5-4 win over LCU.
- The Lady Chaps are 3-3 all-time against Alabama based programs.
LCU and UWF Series Snapshot
- UWF leads the all-time series 2-0.
- The two teams were scheduled to attend the Gulf Shores Invitational in 2021, but COVID forced changes and LCU and UWF met at UWF in Pensacola, Fla., where UWF swept LCU with a 2-1 and 7-1 win over the Lady Chaps.
- LCU is 1-2 all-time against Florida based programs.
Tournament Tidbits
- The Lady Chaps suffered consecutive losses to open the season for a second consecutive time when opening their season at the Gulf Shores Invitational (the last was 2022).
- LCU is seeking their first run of the season. They were shutout in consecutive games for the first time since Apr. 20, 2018 against Rogers State.
- Maxine Valdez has pitched 6.0 innings without allowing an earned run and has eight strikeouts (one walk).
- Of LCU's 11 runs allowed this season, five are unearned (LCU has five errors through two games).
- Sydnee Bowlin and Hope Banales each co-lead the team with two hits.
- Tiarra Delrosario has LCU's only extra-base hit of the season (double).
- In four plate appearances on the season, Riley Flores has been beaned three times and has one hit for a 1.000 on-base percentage.
Back to Bama
- LCU is making a return trip to Alabama, as this season marks their fourth trip to southern Alabama over the last five seasons. Their 2020 season opener in Gulf Shores, Ala. was their first return to Alabama since the 2012 NAIA Softball Championships.
- The Lady Chaps appeared in three national championship tournaments in Gulf Shores (2011, 2012, 2013) and played the 2008-2010 national tournaments in Decatur, Ala.
- LCU is 9-8 all-time in games played at Gulf Shores Sportsplex.
Coach Talk
- LCU head coach Daren Hays is in his 14th season at the helm of the Lady Chaps.
- Hays is LCU's winningest softball head coach, entering Saturday with a softball record of 526-176.
- Along with surpassing 500 coaching wins in softball, Hays had surpassed 300 wins as a collegiate baseball head coach. He spent eight seasons as the LCU baseball head coach and compiled a 356-163 record. Combine the two sports and Hays has coached in 1,221 total games at LCU.
Looking at UWA
- The Tigers went 41-14 last season, finishing third in the Gulf South Conference (GSC) with a 23-7 conference mark.
- UWA is opening their season in Gulf Shores for a third consecutive season and they opened Friday with wins over No.5 Nova Southeastern and No.18 St. Leo.
- West Alabama is slated to finish third in the 13-team GSC Preseason Poll.
- Ann Marie Stanbridge (1B) and Madison Wright (P) are Preseason All-GSC selections.
Looking at UWF
- The Argonauts went 22-23 last season, finishing eighth in the GSC with a 13-16 conference mark.
- UWF, opening their season in Gulf Shores for the first time since the 2020 season, went 1-1 Friday, as they fell to No.1 North Georgia (12-0) and defeated West Georgia 12-11.
- The Argos is slated to finish sixth in the 12-team GSC Preseason Poll.
- Hannah Harper (P/1B) is a 2024 Softball Preseason All-Gulf South Conference Team selection.
