LUBBOCK, Texas (January 6, 2026) – Lubbock Christian University head softball coach Daren Hays has finalized the 2026 Lady Chaparrals softball schedule, highlighted by two early-season tournaments, the program's first-ever trip to California, and a return to a single-division Lone Star Conference slate. LCU opens the season Jan. 30 in Mansfield, Texas, at the Lone Star Classic.
 
The Lady Chaps, coming off a 36-22 season that included the program's fifth NCAA postseason appearance and a No. 5 seed in the Lone Star Conference Championships, will open 2026 with five neutral-site games at the Lone Star Classic, co-hosted by Maryville University and Visit Mansfield. It marks LCU's first appearance in Mansfield since 2015. During the weekend, the Lady Chaps will face Augustana, Minnesota Duluth, Harding, Southern Arkansas and Washburn — with Augustana, Minnesota Duluth and Harding standing as first-ever opponents in program history.
 
From there, LCU heads west for the D2 West Coast Challenge (Feb. 6–8) in Lake Elsinore, Calif., marking the program's first trip to California. All five opponents at the event — San Francisco State, Cal State San Marcos, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal State San Bernardino and Stanislaus State — will be first-time matchups for the Lady Chaps. LCU will stay in California for a Feb. 10 doubleheader at Vanguard, renewing a series last played in 2011 when the schools met as NAIA members.
 
The Lady Chaps begin Lone Star Conference play Feb. 15 at Midwestern State, marking the program's first road conference opener since 2022. The LSC returns to a single-division format in 2026, with each team playing a 40-game conference schedule consisting of doubleheaders versus every league opponent, along with four additional doubleheaders.
 
LCU's home opener is set for Feb. 20 against UT Permian Basin, followed by a Feb. 22 matchup with Angelo State. The home slate includes 18 home games (all are conference home games), which marks their lowest total of home games since playing 14 during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Key rivalry dates include a March 20 home doubleheader against defending LSC regular-season champion West Texas A&M, part of the schools' "Rivalry on the Range" series. The Lady Chaps will also travel to UT Tyler on March 27, with the Patriots entering the season as the two-time defending NCAA Division II national champions.
 
The schedule also features LCU's first-ever meetings with UT Dallas, as the Comets transition into NCAA Division II and the Lone Star Conference. The Lady Chaps will host Western New Mexico and Sul Ross State to close the regular season May 1 and May 3 at Maner Park before heading into the LSC Championship May 7–9.
 
Last spring, LCU finished 26–18 in conference play and third in the LSC West Division, advancing to the NCAA South Central Regional in Canyon, Texas. The Lady Chaps will again play a heavy conference slate, with multiple home doubleheaders throughout March and April.
 
The 2026 schedule includes:
• Season-opening competition in Texas for the first time since 2023
• 8 first-time opponents across the opening two tournaments
• Return to a single-division LSC format (40 league games)
• Road conference opener for the first time since 2022
 
All LSC home and conference road contests will stream live on FloCollege, with additional broadcast information available at lcuchaps.com/live.