LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (0-3, 0-3 LSC) vs.
SUL ROSS STATE (0-3, 0-3 LSC)
Friday, Feb. 6 – 3 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 7 – 2 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 8 – 1 p.m.
Hays Field – Lubbock, Texas

LEADING OFF
After a tough road test against a top five team in the country to start the season, Lubbock Christian University begins their 2026 home slate this weekend with three games against Sul Ross State. Both teams come in still looking for their first win of the young season, after the Lobos were swept at home by St. Mary's on Opening Weekend. This is the second year for SRSU to be in the Lone Star Conference after previously playing at the Division III level. The Chaps will be looking to right the ship against the Lobos with a team almost entirely comprised of new players. Only three players in the starting lineup and one in this week's probable rotation were with the team a season ago.
 
FIELD FACE-LIFT
The Chaps' home field will look quite a bit different to fans who haven't been around since the end of the 2025 season. During the offseason, LCU completed the $2.7 million phase one of the Hays Field renovation project. It features demolition of the field and most seating (press box and center section remain), installation of state-of-the-art field turf across the entire playing surface, including both bullpens, construction of professional-style dugouts with built-in restrooms, a new padded backstop wall and 50-foot-high protective netting and upgraded fencing down both foul lines. Temporary bleachers have been placed down the first and third base lines. It is the first comprehensive upgrades to the facility since 2009. Phase two, which will occur next offseason, will include the demolition of the remaining central seating area (excluding the press box) and the construction of a new, continuous grandstand from dugout to dugout with rear entry for a better spectator experience.
 
FRIENDLY CONFINES
This weekend marks the first three of 27 home games Lubbock Christian will play this season. The Chaps went 18-9 on their home field during the 2025 season with a team batting average 74 points higher than on the road. 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 Chaparrals are 1,200-367 in home games all-time.
 
 
TO START WITH
LCU's projected starting rotation for the weekend features Caden Cline on Friday, Kyle England in Saturday's game and Karson Dunn on the bump for Sunday's series finale. Dunn had the best opening weekend out of the trio, allowing just two earned runs while scattering six hits in five innings against No. 3 UT Tyler. Cline also struck out three in his first-ever start for the Chaps and limited the Patriots to a .250 batting average. England K'ed four batters in his start, allowing just three earned runs. Neither Dunn or England allowed a home run.
 
OH, WHAT A RELIEF IT IS
Another 13 pitchers made appearances in the first three games of the season out of the bullpen. Griffin Binkley was the only reliever to make multiple appearances, allowing just one hit and striking out a pair in two innings of work. Isaiah Gonzalez, Anthony Graziano, Tate Thompson, Will Cooper and Logan Moore also all made relief appearances without allowing an earned run. Graziano's appearance was the first of his collegiate career, and the freshman from Colorado struck out a pair in one inning of work. No LCU reliever went longer than 1.2 innings in a relief outing.
 
GUESS WHO'S BACK
The Chaparrals return just 15 players from a season ago, including three players who were starters in the field. Those three are outfielder Kyle Lewis, first baseman Johnny Gomez III and utility player Brock Tijerina. Lewis was a Third Team All-LSC selection, batting .373, while Tijerina hit .343, mainly out of the designated hitter spot. Three pitchers who threw at least 30 innings last season are also back, including Evan Roach, Karson Dunn and Logan Moore. Roach was on the mound for 51.2 innings and started 11 times, while Dunn and Moore split time between the rotation and the bullpen.
 
FRESH FACES
With so few returners, Lubbock Christian added a whole host of new players to the roster. Of the 22 newcomers, there are seven transfers from Division II schools, three from Division II schools, 10 from junior colleges and three true freshmen. Lubbock native Caden Cline will join the rotation after pitching last season at UT Arlington, and Kyle England will pitch for the Chaps after a successful stint at Odessa College. The two will throw to a new catcher, Jorge De Los Santos, who hit .370 at New Mexico Junior College last season. Carlos Mauldin will also look to boost the Chap offense after a fall at Oregon and a 2025 season at El Paso CC where he hit .449.
 
FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA
LCU's newcomers hail from all over the North American continent, with a whopping 16 (43 percent) hailing from outside of the Lone Star State. The largest contingent from outside of Texas come from Colorado (5), but they also have players from New Mexico, Washington, Idaho, Arizona, Tennessee, Florida, Mexico and even Sitka, Alaska, which more than 3000 miles away from Lubbock.
 
WEARING IT
Lubbock Christian batters were hit by eight pitches on opening weekend, which ranks third in the conference  and 20^th in the nation. Mauldin was plunked three times, including twice in one game, to lead the way, while Tanner Pachorek and Gomez were both hit twice. The Chaps may be in for a rough go in the batter's box again this weekend facing the Lobos, who beaned a whopping 17 St. Mary's batters in three games last weekend. In 2025, Lubbock Christian was hit just 63 times, which ranked in the bottom half of the conference.
 
2000 AND COUNTING
Since the inception of LCU's baseball program in 1971, the Chaparrals have been one of the best baseball teams at whatever level they were playing. Lubbock Christian has played 3,453 games throughout all those years, posting an overall program record of 2,315 wins and 1,138 losses in that time. For the last 20 seasons, it has been head coach Nathan Blackwood leading the program, and he has a 836-393 record.
 
SCOUTING THE LOBOS

• Sul Ross hit .363 as a team against St. Mary's, led by Leo Salas's .545 batting average
• Lubbock native and Frenship grad Gage Cobb was SRSU's top pitcher on opening weekend, allowing no runs in 4.2 innings or work
• The Lobos are led by Caleb Abney, who is in his second year leading the team. Abney was previously the head coach at D-III Lancaster Bible College
• Sul Ross's pitching staff posted an ERA of 18.36 through the first three games, which was the worst in the Lone Star Conference
• The Lobos hit six home runs against St. Mary's which is the third-most in the conference

 
THE SERIES WITH THE LOBOS
Lubbock Christian and Sul Ross have been meeting on the diamond since 1984, with the Chaps leading the all-time series 79-17. Last year's four-game set in Alpine broke a 14-year year hiatus in the matchup between the two schools. Lubbock Christian is currently riding a 14-game winning streak dating all the way back to 2003. LCU's last loss against SRSU was in 1995, and the last time they lost to the Lobos in Lubbock was April 30, 1987.