LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. (February 6, 2025) – Lubbock Christian University steps on California soil for the first time in program history, as the Lady Chaparrals face San Francisco State (11:30 a.m. CT) and Cal State San Marcos (2 p.m. CT) Friday in their opening day of play in the NCAA D2 West Coast Challenge at Rosetta Canyon Sports Park.
| NCAA D2 WEST COAST CHALLENGE |
| OPPONENT |
LOCATION |
DAY |
TIME (CT) |
VIDEO |
STATS |
WEATHER |
| San Francisco St. |
Rosetta Canyon Sports Park (Orange) |
Fri., Feb. 6 |
11:30 a.m. (CT) |
None |
Stats |
Forecast |
| No.14 Cal St. San Marcos |
Rosetta Canyon Sports Park (Orange) |
Fri., Feb. 6 |
2 p.m. (CT) |
None |
Stats |
Forecast |
LCU and SFSU Series Snapshot
- LCU and San Franscisco State have never met.
- The Lady Chaps are 4-2 all-time against California based programs.
- LCU has never faced a program part of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).
LCU and CSUSM Series Snapshot
- The two programs have never met.
- Like SFSU, CSUSM is a member of the CCAA.
Season Tidbits
- LCU is 0-3 to open the 2026 season, as they fell to No.9 Augustana, Minnesota Duluth and Washburn last week in the freezing (wind chill) temperatures competing at the Lone Star Classic in Mansfield, Texas.
- Junior infielder Cat Prisock leads the Lady Chaps offensively, owning a 1.000 batting average and 1.000 on-base percentage with three hits and three runs scored.
- Sophomore Ava Castillo, a first-year Lady Chap that transferred in from New Mexico, has been one of LCU's most consistent hitters, batting .455 with five hits and a pair of stolen bases through the first three games.
- Junior catcher Kadin Vire ranks second on the team with three hits while leading LCU with two RBI and a .444 slugging percentage.
- Freshman Alexis Pacheco has already delivered LCU's first home run of the season and owns a team-best .800 slugging percentage.
- LCU has produced extra-base power early, recording five doubles, one triple and one home run in the opening weekend.
- The Lady Chaps are hitting .253 as a team, with 19 hits and 12 RBI through three games.
- LCU has drawn five walks and swiped four bases, with Castillo and Madison Hunter accounting for all four steals.
- Freshman and local Lubbock product Lexi Clark has paced the pitching staff with six strikeouts in 4.2 innings, holding opponents to a .269 batting average.
- Sophomore Natalee Gray has yet to allow a run this season, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings with one strikeout.
- LCU's pitching staff has combined for 14 strikeouts across 14.1 innings.
- The Lady Chaps' roster features 12 freshmen or sophomores, highlighting one of the youngest squads in the Lone Star Conference.
- LCU has outscored opponents 12–7 in the seventh inning this season, showing late-game fight.
California Dreamin'
- LCU's trip to Lake Elsinore marks their first-ever games in California.
- The games are a homecoming for a trio of Lady Chaps, as Piper Garcia (Buena Park, Calif.) Brianna Chambers-Lee (San Jose, Calif.) and Gabby Diotalevi (San Jose, Calif.) are each from California.
- LCU has seven games scheduled in California, with five games in Lake Elsinore and then a doubleheader Tuesday in Costa Mesa, Calif. at Vanguard.
Last Season Refresher
- LCU went 23-22 last season and was fifth in the Lone Star Conference with a 26-18 conference mark. Additionally, LCU went 18-10 in West Division play to finish third in the division (LSC will not use divisions this season).
- Their season came to an end at the NCAA Division II South Central Regional tournament in Canyon, Texas with a 3-1 loss to Colorado Mesa.
- LCU went 4-11 last season against nationally ranked programs last season., collecting a win over No.1 West Texas A&M on April 25, 2025.
- The Lady Chaps went 21-6 last season at home, 10-14 on the road and 5-2 in neutral site games.
Coach Talk
- LCU head coach Daren Hays is in his 16th season at the helm of the Lady Chaps.
- Hays is LCU's winningest softball head coach, entering the weekend with a softball record of 588-221.
- 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 1,280 total games at LCU.
Looking at SFSU
- The Gators are 3-2 after opening the season last weekend in Irvine, Calif. at the Concordia Kickoff Classic. In the mix was a 12-3 run-rule spirited win over No.3 Western Washington.
- Last season, SFSU went 39-20 overall and 21-15 in the CCAA. They were the CCAA Tournament Champions and a West Regional qualifier.
Looking at CSUSM
- The Cougars enter the season No.14 in the NFCA national polls and are off to a 4-1 start after opening the season last week in Irvine, Calif. Their lone loss was the Fort Lewis College (3-2) in eight innings.
- Last season, CSUSM went 43-23 (21-15 in the CCAA). They lost to SFSU in the CCAA Tournament Championship Game, but then eliminated the Gators in the West Regional. CSUSM eventually lost out to Western Washington at home in the West Super Regional.
