LUBBOCK, Texas (March 15, 2025) – After Friday's postponement due to dust-filled skies, the Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaps are set for a busy weekend at Maner Park. LCU will host Eastern New Mexico on Saturday and Western New Mexico on Sunday for a pair of Lone Star Conference doubleheaders. First pitch each day is scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
| LONE STAR CONFERENCE SOFTBALL |
| OPPONENT |
LOCATION |
DAY |
TIME (CT) |
VIDEO |
RADIO |
STATS |
| Eastern N.M. |
Maner Park |
Sat., Mar. 15 |
1 p.m. |
Watch |
None |
Stats |
| Eastern N.M. |
Maner Park |
Sat., Mar. 15 |
3 p.m. |
Watch |
None |
Stats |
| Western N.M. |
Maner Park |
Sun., Mar. 16 |
1 p.m. |
Watch |
None |
Stats |
| Western N.M. |
Maner Park |
Sun., Mar. 16 |
3 p.m. |
Watch |
None |
Stats |
| Weather |
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|
|
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LCU and ENMU Series Snapshot
- Lubbock Christian leads the all-time series against Eastern New Mexico, 44-1.
- LCU won 42 consecutive games against ENMU from Feb. 12, 2010, to March 8, 2023, before dropping its only loss in the series on Feb. 27, 2024 (4-3 in extra innings).
- The Lady Chaps are 22-0 all-time in Lubbock against ENMU.
- LCU has outscored ENMU 426-121 across 45 meetings, averaging 9.47 runs per game.
- The Lady Chaps won the most recent meeting, 11-2 (5 innings) on Feb. 28, 2024 in Portales.
- LCU is 9-1 against ENMU in the last 10 matchups.
- The largest margin of victory came on March 20, 2018, when LCU defeated ENMU 21-3 in Portales.
- The two teams have met 10 times as Lone Star Conference opponents, with LCU holding a 9-1 advantage.
- LCU has recorded 18 run-rule victories over ENMU, including nine wins in five innings since 2019.
LCU and WNMU Series Snapshot
- Lubbock Christian leads the all-time series against Western New Mexico, 18-0.
- The Lady Chaps have outscored WNMU 178-29 across 18 meetings, averaging 9.89 runs per game.
- LCU is 13-0 all-time at home against the Mustangs and 5-0 in Silver City.
- The Lady Chaps have won all 10 matchups since WNMU joined the Lone Star Conference.
- LCU has posted shutouts in 10 of the 18 meetings, including five in the last six games.
- The largest margin of victory was a 14-0 win on March 18, 2022, in Silver City.
- The closest game in series history was a 5-1 extra-inning victory on March 21, 2023.
- LCU has recorded 11 run-rule victories over WNMU, including three in 2024.
Season Tidbits
- Lubbock Christian (17-9, 8-8 LSC) has had an up-and-down season, excelling at home (10-3) but struggling on the road (3-5). The Lady Chaps opened strong in non-conference play but have been inconsistent in Lone Star Conference action. Offensive firepower has been evident in big wins, including a 16-0 rout of Adams State, while pitching has shined in shutout victories over Texas A&M International and St. Edward's. However, losses to top LSC teams like UT Tyler and Texas A&M-Kingsville highlight the challenges ahead as LCU looks to climb the standings.
- Lubbock Christian continues to showcase a strong offense, ranking 72nd nationally and seventh in the Lone Star Conference with a .312 team batting average. The Lady Chaps have outscored opponents 162-121 through their first 26 games.
- Baylea Myers remains a key offensive force, batting .423 (15th in the LSC) with 33 hits (15th in the LSC), 22 RBIs (16th in the LSC), and a .692 slugging percentage (12th in the LSC). She has also contributed three sacrifice flies (tied for first in the LSC) and holds a .494 on-base percentage.
- Kawehi Ili has been equally impactful, tallying eight stolen bases (eighth in the LSC) and contributing offensively with key hits in clutch moments.
- The Lady Chaps' power has been on display, ranking 32nd nationally and sixth in the conference with 18 home runs. Kendra Levesque and Myers lead the team with four home runs each (10th in LSC). Nine different Lady Chaps have hit at least one home run this season.
- The team has excelled at capitalizing on scoring opportunities, ranking 20th nationally and fourth in the conference with 149 RBIs. They also rank 33rd nationally in RBIs per game (5.73).
- The Lady Chaps' aggressive baserunning has been a factor, stealing 33 bases in 34 attempts, ranking fourth in the LSC. Kadin Vire (10-for-11) and Ili (8-for-8) continue to lead the way.
- Pitching remains steady with a team ERA of 3.44, ranking sixth in the conference. Kendall Ward has been a key contributor with a 4-0 record, a 1.56 ERA in 18 innings, and four saves (leads the LSC).
- Emily Dix leads the pitching staff in strikeouts with 44 in 44 innings, averaging 6.8 strikeouts per seven innings (13th in the conference). She also ranks in the top 10 in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.87).
- The Lady Chaps' defense has been solid, ranking third in the conference and 36th nationally with a .971 fielding percentage. They have also turned eight double plays, ranking 46th nationally and fifth in the LSC.
- LCU ranks first in the conference and fifth nationally in sacrifice flies with 14, showcasing their efficiency in situational hitting. Myers leads the team with three.
- The Lady Chaps continue to be one of the top-scoring teams in the nation, ranking 21st in total runs (162) and 37th in scoring average (6.23 runs per game).
- LCU ranks 34th nationally and fifth in the LSC with 41 doubles, averaging 1.58 per game.
- Their ability to draw walks has been crucial, ranking 32nd nationally and sixth in the LSC with 84 walks on the season.
- Teoni Lamb and Emily Dix have been key contributors in the circle, ranking in the top 20 in the conference for innings pitched, with Lamb recording three complete games.
- Ward remains one of the most effective relief pitchers in the nation, leading the LSC with four saves (tied for second nationally) and limiting opponents effectively in key situations.
- The Lady Chaps rank fifth in the LSC in shutouts (5) and 30th nationally, showing their ability to dominate games defensively.
Deeper Dive
- LCU continues to dominate early innings, outscoring opponents 33-8 in the first and 32-9 in the third. Their record when scoring first is now 13-3, highlighting the importance of fast starts.
- Kawehi Ili remains clutch, hitting .500 (10-for-20) with runners in scoring position and .875 (7-for-8) when driving in a runner from third with fewer than two outs. She also advances runners at a 63.6% success rate (21-for-33).
- Kendra Levesque (.346) and Baylea Myers (.435) are consistent offensive threats, both hitting over .340 with runners in scoring position while also excelling at advancing runners.
- Yaya Kaaialii leads the team in overall batting efficiency, hitting .387 (12-for-31) with runners in scoring position. Kaden Vire is next in clutch hits, with 11 in the scenario (.393).
- LCU is nearly unbeatable when leading after four innings, holding a 13-2 record, and remains perfect at 7-0 when leading after six innings. They also have two wins this season when trailing after six innings.
- LCU thrives in high-scoring games, going 10-2 when scoring 5+ runs, including 8-0 when reaching double digits. Conversely, they struggle when held to two or fewer runs (1-7).
- Kadin Vire leads LCU with five hits when the bases are loaded (3-for-7, .429).
- Power production is a key factor—LCU is 3-0 when hitting multiple home runs and 14-2 when the opponent fails to hit a homer.
- LCU has out-hit opponents in 13 games and won all 13. When out-hit by opponents, they are just 2-7.
- The team capitalizes on opponents' mistakes, holding a 9-1 record when the opposition commits multiple errors.
- Pitching and defense have been key in wins—LCU is 11-0 when holding opponents under three runs, but just 1-5 when allowing 6-9 runs.
- LCU remains perfect in extra-inning games (2-0) and shutouts (5-1), demonstrating their ability to close out tight contests.
Lone Star Conference Breakdown
- This season is LCU's sixth season in the LSC.
- LCU is 103-60 all-time in LSC play.
- The Lady Chaps went 24-18 last season in conference (sixth place in the standings).
- Snapshot of last season in the LSC for LCU.
- LCU is hit .308 in conference, with 40 home runs (allowed 28).
- The pitching staff had a 2.81 ERA in LSC play, with 211 strikeouts in 269.1 innings and held opponents to a .246 batting average.
- LCU is now 8-8 in Lone Star Conference play.
The Lady Chaps are hitting .263 as a team in conference games, with a .434 slugging percentage and 14 home runs. Baylea Myers leads the team in OPS (1.101) while contributing five doubles, a triple, and two home runs.
- Yaya Kaaialii (.342 AVG, 1.079 OPS) continues to be a key offensive weapon, leading the team in on-base percentage (.500) with 11 walks and a team-high 13 runs scored.
- Baylea Myers (.378 AVG, .667 SLG) has been a steady force at the plate, tallying 17 hits, including five doubles, while driving in nine RBIs.
- Kendra Levesque (.313 AVG, .981 OPS) continues to provide power, leading the team with four home runs and 13 RBIs.
- Kristen Boyd (.250 AVG, .846 OPS) remains a top extra-base hitter with five doubles and two home runs, driving in 10 RBIs.
- Piper Garcia (.280 AVG, .920 OPS) has been a solid contributor with two homers and seven RBIs in 13 games played.
- In the circle, LCU's pitching staff holds a 3.85 ERA in conference play, with opponents hitting .272 against them.
- Natalee Gray (1.34 ERA, .220 BAA) has been the most effective pitcher, allowing just three earned runs in 15.2 innings while holding opponents to a .220 average.
- Teoni Lamb (3.67 ERA, 33 K in 34.1 IP) has been the team's workhorse, tossing three complete games and recording a team-high 33 strikeouts.
- The long ball has been an issue for LCU's pitching staff, surrendering 17 home runs in 16 games, contributing to a .464 opponent slugging percentage.
Home on the Range
- LCU is 337-60 (84.9%) all-time in home games at Maner Park.
- Last season, LCU was 15-6 at home (24-8 in 2023). Last season marked the first time in program history that LCU did not host a non-conference game
- This season, LCU is 10-3 at home.
- The Lady Chaps have outscored opponents 103-44 at home, averaging 7.92 runs per game with an average margin of victory of 4.54.
- Yaya Kaaialii (.469 AVG, 15 H, 5 2B, 2 HR, 12 RBI) and Baylea Myers (.371 AVG, 13 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI) remain key offensive contributors.
- Kristen Boyd (.371 AVG, 13 H, 5 2B, 2 HR, 13 RBI) continues to be a run producer, while Kendra Levesque (.375 AVG, 15 H, 3 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 10 RBI) provides consistent power.
- Piper Garcia (.500 AVG, 8 H, 2 HR, .875 SLG%) and Madison Ruiz (.421 AVG, 8 H, 2 3B, .632 SLG%) have delivered in key moments.
- The Lady Chaps are hitting .357 as a team at home, with 95 RBIs and 17 stolen bases (in 17 attempts).
- Teoni Lamb (2.84 ERA, 24.2 IP, 29 K) has been a workhorse in the circle.
- Emily Dix (3.28 ERA, 21.1 IP, 30 K) and Natalee Gray (1.27 ERA, 11.0 IP, 17 K) have provided strong support.
- The LCU pitching staff holds a 3.10 ERA, limiting opponents to a .248 batting average while striking out 87 batters in 79 innings.
Streaking Along
- Baylea Myers' nine-game hitting streak remains the longest by a Lady Chap this season. Kadin Vire now holds the longest active streak at three games.
- Yaya Kaaialii has reached base safely in 20 consecutive games, extending the longest streak by a Lady Chap this season. Kendra Levesque (11) and Baylea Myers (9) follow behind. Kristen Boyd now holds the longest active on-base streak at five games.
- Myers leads LCU with 11 multi-hit games, while Kadin Vire (9), Yaya Kaaialii (8), Kawehi Ili (7), and Kendra Levesque (7) remain key contributors.
- Myers also leads the team with six multi-RBI games, followed by Levesque (5), while Kadin Vire, Kristen Boyd, Bailey Hughes, and Kawehi Ili each have four.
Coach Talk
- LCU head coach Daren Hays is in his 15th season at the helm of the Lady Chaps.
- Hays is LCU's winningest softball head coach, entering Saturday with a softball record of 569-205.
- Along with surpassing 550 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 1,245 total games at LCU.
Looking at ENMU
- Eastern New Mexico softball is off to a strong 16-10 start (.615), with a solid 9-7 conference record (.562). The Greyhounds have been competitive both at home (4-4) and on the road (5-3), with an impressive 7-3 mark at neutral sites. They've picked up key wins over Texas A&M-Kingsville and St. Mary's. Currently riding a two-game win streak, ENMU sits in the upper half of the LSC West standings, positioning themselves as a contender in the competitive Lone Star Conference.
- Eastern New Mexico's offense has been a force this season, ranking 17th nationally and third in the Lone Star Conference with 151 RBIs. Their ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities is reflected in their 14th national ranking in total runs (170) and a strong 22nd ranking in scoring (6.54 runs per game). The Greyhounds have also showcased their slugging ability, ranking 11th in home runs (25) and 37th in slugging percentage (.488).
- ENMU has been a doubles-hitting machine, ranking 29th in the nation with 43 doubles and third in the conference. Their ability to stretch hits into extra bases is further emphasized by their 54th-place ranking in doubles per game (1.65). Additionally, their nine double plays turned place them 31st in the nation and third in the conference, highlighting their efficiency on both sides of the ball.
- The Greyhounds have demonstrated great patience and plate discipline, ranking 14th in the nation with 95 walks, which is also the second-best mark in the Lone Star Conference. Their on-base percentage (.402) ranks 44th nationally and fifth in the conference, allowing them to put pressure on opposing pitchers and create scoring opportunities.
- While ENMU's pitching staff sits at 131st in ERA (3.92), they have been solid in other key areas, ranking 55th in strikeouts per seven innings (5.80) and 143rd in strikeout-to-walk ratio (1.42). The Greyhounds have also shown strong control, limiting hit batters to just 25, ranking 261st nationally, which is the second-fewest in the conference.
Looking at WNMU
- Western New Mexico University's softball team has struggled this season, holding a 6-19 overall record and a 3-13 mark in Lone Star Conference play. The Mustangs have faced tough competition, enduring a four-game losing streakand winless road record (0-8). Despite some bright spots, including victories over Texas A&M International and Cameron, consistency has been an issue. As WNMU looks to turn things around, they'll face another challenge this Saturday in San Angelo against Angelo State before traveling to Lubbock Christian on Sunday.
- WNMU has showcased its ability to drive the ball with power, ranking 7th in the LSC and 38th nationally in total home runs (17). The Mustangs are also 7th in the LSC and 44th nationally in home runs per game (0.68), demonstrating their potential to change the game with one swing.
- The Mustangs have been efficient in turning double plays, ranking 8th in the LSC and 88th nationally with six double plays turned this season. This ability to convert key outs has helped limit opponents' scoring opportunities.
- WNMU's pitching staff has been effective in limiting opponents' hits, ranking 1st in the LSC and 7th nationally in hits allowed per seven innings (13.60). Their ability to challenge hitters and induce weak contact has been a bright spot in the season.
- The Mustangs have shown patience, drawing 54 walks this season, which places them 13th in the LSC and 134th nationally. Their ability to get on base through walks adds another dimension to their offensive approach.
