CANYON Texas (May 9, 2025) – No. 7-seed Lubbock Christian University is aiming for an extended stay at Schaeffer Park as it looks to keep its season alive on Day 2 of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional's Canyon Bracket. The Lady Chaps face No. 6-seed Colorado Mesa in a 2:30 p.m. elimination game, with the winner advancing to a second elimination matchup at 5 p.m.
The Scenario
- If LCU defeats Colorado Mesa, LCU will play remain at Schaeffer Park to face either No.3-seed No.8 Angelo State or No.2-seed No.3 West Texas A&M in an elimination game. The winner of the 5 p.m. game advances to Saturday's championship series having to win twice to advance to the Super Regional.
- A loss would eliminate the Lady Chaps, ending their season with a 36-22 record.
| NCAA DIV.II SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL |
| OPPONENT |
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| Colorado Mesa |
Canyon, Texas |
Fri., May. 9 |
2:30 p.m. |
Watch |
None |
Stats |
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| Weather |
Tournament Website |
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LCU and CMU Series Snapshot
- Lubbock Christian and Colorado Mesa have met once previously, with the Mavericks claiming a 3–2 comeback win over the Lady Chaps in an elimination game during the 2017 NCAA Division II South Central Regional in San Angelo.
- LCU led 2–1 heading into the seventh inning behind strong pitching from Monique Garcia and RBI from Sydney Beuthien and Katera Eltsosie, but Colorado Mesa pushed across two unearned runs in a chaotic top of the seventh inning, aided by a controversial obstruction call at home plate resulting in the ejection of head coach Daren Hays.
- Beuthien homered and doubled, scoring both LCU runs, while Eltsosie added a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth before taking the loss in relief.
- The game marked the end of a 40-win season for LCU, which had rallied earlier in the day with a 14–11 comeback win over Cameron.
- The 2017 meeting was played at Mayer Field on the campus of Angelo State, with Colorado Mesa advancing despite being limited to just five hits.
NCAA Postseason Breakdown
- This tournament marks LCU's fifth appearance in the NCAA postseason and their first at a site hosted by West Texas A&M. The Lady Chaps have previously appeared in the South Central Regional in 2016 (San Antonio), 2017 (San Angelo), 2022 (Tyler), and 2023 (Tyler).
- LCU is 4-9 all-time in NCAA postseason play. The Lady Chaps went 1-2 in their last tournament appearance (2023 in Tyler).
- LCU is 2-4 in games facing elimination in the tournament.
- LCU is hitting .264 all-time in NCAA postseason play and owns a staff ERA of 5.65. Savannah Wysocki is LCU's all-time postseason hits leader, batting .529 (9 hits in 4 games).
- Riley Flores is the only active Lady Chap with plate appearances in multiple regional tournaments and is 5-for-11 (.455) in four games played.
- LCU has eight home runs all-time in NCAA postseason contests, with four coming from former Lady Chap Sydney Beuthien.
- Taylor Franco is LCU's all-time wins leader in NCAA postseason play, going 2-1 with a 3.79 ERA and 11 strikeouts over 19.0 innings.
- Ashlinn Hamilton is LCU's only active pitcher with NCAA postseason experience, logging 2.0 innings of relief with a 4.50 ERA.
- LCU has faced nationally ranked opponents in 11 of its 13 NCAA postseason games, holding a 2-9 record in those contests.
- Here are some notes on the 2025 regional for LCU
- LCU fell into an elimination game following a 9-4 loss Thursday against host No.3 West Texas A&M.
- Kristen Boyd had a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs, contributing to every opportunity she had and leading the team with a 1.667 slugging percentage and 1.000 on-base percentage. Her pair of doubles marked the fourth time a Lady Chaps member has had a two-double game in a NCAA postseason game.
- Riley Flores showed strong contact skills, batting .667 (2-for-3) and successfully advancing runners in both of her opportunities, with a perfect 1.000 success rate in runner advancement and reaching base as a leadoff hitter.
- LCU batters hit a combined .357 with the bases empty and .333 with two outs, indicating clutch contact hitting that created chances to extend innings.
- Despite the loss, LCU matched WTin total hits (8) and total bases (13), a positive sign of offensive competitiveness.
Streaking Along
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 Friday with a softball record of 588-217.
- Along with surpassing 575 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 1,276 total games at LCU.
Looking at CMU
- CMU is making their 15th regional appearance (second straight season) and are 15-29 after falling 3-2 Thursday to Angelo State.
- CMU held a 2–0 lead through three-and-a-half innings before Angelo State plated three runs in the bottom of the fourth to defeat the Mavericks.
- The Mavericks were limited to four hits and struck out eight times against Cheyenne Floyd (7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 8 K).
- Catcher Ally Distler launched her team-leading 16th home run in the top of the fourth, finishing 2-for-3 and recording the only multi-hit game by any player.
- Myah Arrieta (1-for-3, BB, RBI) drove in CMU's first run with a two-out RBI single in the third inning after reaching base in three of her four plate appearances.
- CMU had a chance to tie or take the lead in the seventh after loading the bases with two outs, but Floyd ended the game with her eighth strikeout.
- Preslee Christensen (L, 11–6) took the loss after allowing five hits and three runs (two earned) over 3.0+ innings. She faced four batters in the decisive fourth before being relieved.
- Jessalyn Gallegos was excellent in relief, tossing 3.0 scoreless innings and allowing just one hit while stranding the bases loaded in the fifth.
- CMU committed two errors, one of which extended the Rambelles' three-run fourth inning, leading to two unearned runs.
- The Mavs went 2-for-10 with runners on base and left seven runners stranded, including three in the seventh inning.
