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A Game Day promotional graphic for LCU Softball against West Texas A&M. A smiling player in an orange and blue uniform stands at home plate holding a glove, with a catcher in white gear reaching out on the left. The bright blue sky background shows a softball diamond. Text reads

Top-Ranked Test: West Texas A&M Brings No.1 Ranking to Maner Park

| By: Chris Due (chris.due@lcu.edu)

Lady Chaps Look To Defend Home Turf As Rivalry With Nation’s Top Team Renews

LUBBOCK, Texas (March 19, 2026) – Rivalry on the Range invades Maner Park Friday at 3 p.m., as Lubbock Christian University and No.1 West Texas A&M square off in a Lone Star Conference doubleheader.
 
LONE STAR CONFERENCE SOFTBALL
OPPONENT LOCATION DAY TIME (CT) VIDEO STATS WEATHER
No.1 West Texas A&M Maner Park  Fri., Mar. 20 3 p.m. Watch Stats Weather
No.1 West Texas A&M Maner Park  Fri., Mar. 20 5 p.m. Watch Stats Weather
TICKETS
  
LCU and WT Series Snapshot
  • Lubbock Christian and West Texas A&M have met 39 times, with their first matchup on March 11, 2008, with WT holding a 27–12 lead in the all-time series.
  • The Lady Chaps won the inaugural meeting in dominant fashion, 11–0, but WT has mostly had the upper-hand in the series, including holding LCU to three wins over the past 13 meetings.
  • LCU is 8–12 at home and 4–15 on the road against WT. LCU is 2-4 in the last six meetings at Maner Park.
  • Since joining the Lone Star Conference, LCU is 3–11 versus the Lady Buffs in conference matchups.
  • LCU's longest win streak in the series is five games (2008–2011), while WT's longest streak is six straight wins (2019–2022).
  • WT went 5–1 against LCU in 2025, which included a 6-0 WT win in the Lone Star Conference Championships (May 2, 2025) and a 9-4 WT win in the NCAA South Central Regional.
  • Four of the last 10 meetings since 2022 have been decided by one run.

Season Tidbits
  • LCU is 14–12 overall and 10–6 in Lone Star Conference play through 26 games, sitting firmly in the top half of the league standings. After opening the season 0–5, the Lady Chaps have gone 14–7 since, including a 5–3 mark over their last eight games. LCU went 5–3 on an eight-game road trip and responded from a series sweep at St. Mary's with a home doubleheader sweep of Midwestern State, extending their total to six doubleheader sweeps this season.
  • The Lady Chaps continue to perform well away from home, posting an 8–4 road record, while going 4–2 at home and 2–6 at neutral sites.
  • Offensively, LCU is hitting .272 as a team, totaling 201 hits, 37 doubles, six triples and 10 home runs, while averaging 4.65 runs per game (121 runs). The Lady Chaps have added 25 stolen bases (25-for-35, 71.4%).
  • Defensively, LCU leads the Lone Star Conference and ranks No. 1 nationally with 16 double plays turned (0.62 per game), while posting a .958 fielding percentage.
  • Kadin Vire continues to lead the offense with a .417 batting average (35-for-84), adding nine doubles (seventh in LSC), three triples (third in the LSC) and a home run, along with a .631 slugging percentage and .484 on-base percentage. She also leads the team with 22 runs scored and has 11 multi-hit games, including a recent 3-for-5 day at St. Mary's.
  • Ashlinn Hamilton leads LCU with 22 RBI and has added three home runs, including a long ball in the Midwestern State series. She also owns a .291 average and has recorded multiple multi-hit performances in recent games.
  • Coryn Burris has driven in 17 RBI and is tied for the team lead with three home runs, while Brianna Chambers-Lee has contributed 13 RBI.
  • Alexis Pacheco leads the nation and the Lone Star Conference with 90 assists (3.46 per game) and has added 19 hits, 12 RBI and three home runs, including a career-high three-RBI game vs. Midwestern State.
  • Madison Hunter (7) and Ava Castillo (6) lead the team in stolen bases, with Hunter perfect on the season.
  • In the circle, LCU owns a 3.17 team ERA, ranking among the top teams in the Lone Star Conference (fourth), with opponents batting .259.
  • Natalee Gray (6–3, 3.34 ERA) leads the staff with 52.1 innings pitched and 31 strikeouts, while holding opponents to a .239 batting average.
  • Lexi Clark (5–3, 2.70 ERA) has logged 49.1 innings with two complete-game shutouts, continuing to provide stability in the rotation.
  • Kendall Ward (3–2, 2.54 ERA) leads the nation and LSC with six saves and recently became LCU's all-time career saves leader (11) after recording back-to-back saves in a doubleheader sweep of Midwestern State.
 
Lone Star Conference Breakdown
  • This season is LCU's seventh season in the LSC.
  • LCU is 131-76 all-time in LSC play.
  • The Lady Chaps went 26-18 last season in conference (third in the West Division standings at 18-10).
  • LCU is 10-6 this season in LSC play (opened up conference with a 4-0 start for the second time ever as LSC members).
    • Lubbock Christian is 10–6 in Lone Star Conference play through 16 games, averaging 4.6 runs per game (73 runs) on a .257 team batting average. The Lady Chaps have produced 117 hits, including 28 extra-base hits (19 doubles, two triples, seven home runs), while posting a .328 on-base percentage and .354 slugging percentage. LCU has also been efficient on the bases, going 15-for-20 (75%) in stolen base attempts.
    • Kadin Vire continues to anchor the lineup, batting .385 (20-for-52) in conference play with five doubles, one triple and one home run, while posting a .577 slugging percentage and .467 on-base percentage. She has scored 12 runs, driven in seven, and remains one of the toughest players in the conference to strike out.
    • Ashlinn Hamilton has been a key run producer, hitting .294 with a .529 slugging percentage, including three home runs and a team-leading 14 RBI in LSC play, while adding 10 runs scored.
    • Riley Flores is batting .306 in conference games with a .419 on-base percentage, while Brianna Chambers-Lee (.278) and Alexis Clark (eight RBI) continue to provide depth in the middle of the order.
    • In the circle, Alexis Clark is 4–2 with a 2.25 ERA in conference play across 37.1 innings, recording two complete games and three shutouts, while limiting opponents to a .237 batting average.
    • Kendall Ward has been dominant out of the bullpen, going 2–1 with a 1.29 ERA and four saves in LSC action. She has held opponents to a .203 batting average across 21.2 innings, continuing to lead the conference in saves.
    • Ashlinn Hamilton has also been highly effective in relief, posting a 1.05 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP over 13.1 innings, allowing just six hits in conference play.
    • As a staff, LCU owns a 2.76 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in league games, holding opponents to a .236 batting average across 114.0 innings with 59 strikeouts.
    • Defensively, the Lady Chaps continue to be one of the top units in the nation, turning 11 double plays in conference play while posting a .964 fielding percentage.
 
Home Sweet Home
  • LCU is 352-65 (84.4%) all-time in home games at Maner Park.
  • Last season, LCU was 21-6 at home (15-6 in 2024). This season will match their 2024 home slate, as 2024 was the only prior season in program history in which LCU did not host a non-conference game. 
  • This season, LCU is 4–2 at home.
  • The Lady Chaps have outscored opponents 38–18 (+20 run differential) and are averaging 6.3 runs per game while allowing just 3.0 runs per contest.
  • Offensively, LCU is hitting a strong .323 at home, producing 50 hits in 155 at-bats with a .385 on-base percentage and .413 slugging percentage. The Lady Chaps have recorded nine stolen bases in 10 attempts (90%), showing efficiency on the bases.
  • Alexis Pacheco has thrived at Maner Park, batting .412 (7-for-17) with two home runs and a .824 slugging percentage, while driving in six runs.
  • Alexis Clark has contributed both at the plate and in the circle, hitting .375 at home while also going 2–0 with a 1.08 ERA in three starts, holding opponents to a .213 batting average.
  • Kadin Vire is hitting .368 at home with a .455 on-base percentage, scoring a team-high six runs, while continuing to set the tone at the top of the lineup.
  • Brianna Chambers-Lee (.357) and Ashlinn Hamilton (.294, HR, 4 RBI) have added depth, while Hamilton has also been effective in relief with a 1.31 ERA in home appearances.
  • In the circle, LCU owns a 2.69 ERA at home, limiting opponents to a .227 batting average across 39.0 innings. The staff has combined for 27 strikeouts while allowing just 34 hits.
  • Natalee Gray is 2–1 at home, while Kendall Ward has recorded two saves, helping the Lady Chaps close out late-game situations.
  • Defensively, LCU holds a .961 fielding percentage at home and has turned four double plays, continuing to rank among the conference's top defensive teams.
  • The Lady Chaps have been particularly dominant in their wins at home, scoring 9+ runs twice (9-1, 14-0 vs. UT Permian Basin) and completing a conference doubleheader sweep of Midwestern State to close their most recent homestand.
 
Streaking Along
  • Kadin Vire had an 11-game hit streak and a 14-game streak of reaching base safely, which are each the longest streaks of the season by a Lady Chap.
  • Vire, again, is LCU's active leader in consecutive games with a hit, as she has been successful in five games.
  • Riley Flores and Vire have each reached base safely in eight consecutive games.
  • Additionally, Vire leads LCU with 11 multi-hit performances (eight are two-hit games).
  • Ashlinn Hamilton leads LCU with five multi-RBI performances.

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 602-230 (he became the 25th active NCAA Div. II head coach to achieve 600 career softball victories).
  • Along with surpassing 600 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 1,351 total games at LCU.
 
Inside The Rankings
  • Lubbock Christian has shown the ability to rise to the moment against the nation's best, highlighted by last season's home win over No. 1 West Texas A&M. Each of LCU's last two wins over a top-ranked WT squad have come with the Lady Buffs sitting at No. 1 nationally.
  • The Lady Chaps own a unique history of success against No. 1 teams, with landmark victories spanning the program's existence. LCU's first-ever win over a No. 1 opponent came in just its third game in program history—defeating Oklahoma City on Feb. 22, 2008. Since then, LCU has added signature home wins over No. 1 programs in 2015 (WT), 2022 (UT) and last season (WT) showing a consistent ability to deliver program-defining upsets.
  • Last season, LCU faced one of the nation's toughest schedules, going 4-11 against nationally ranked opponents. That slate included four matchups against No. 1 teams, where the Lady Chaps went 1-1 against West Texas A&M and 0-2 against UT Tyler while they held the top ranking.
  • LCU's most recent win over a ranked opponent came in emphatic fashion—an 11-3 victory over No. 20 Oklahoma Christian during the Lone Star Conference Championship on May 1, 2025 in Canyon, Texas.
  • This season, LCU is still searching for its first breakthrough against ranked competition (0-6). LCU faced No. 14 Cal State San Marcos on Feb. 6 in Lake Elsinore. Notably, CSUSM later ascended to the No. 1 ranking before being overtaken by West Texas A&M.

Looking at WT
  • The Lady Buffs enter the weekend atop the Lone Star Conference at 15-1 (25-3 overall), riding a 12-game win streak and boasting an unblemished 8-0 road mark. They have separated themselves as the league's most dominant club, leading the conference in winning percentage (.938) while owning series wins across the board, including multiple run-rule victories in league play.
  • West Texas A&M features the most explosive offense in NCAA Division II, leading the nation in batting average (.412), scoring (9.32 runs/game), slugging (.693), on-base percentage (.493) and total home runs (46). The Lady Buffs have produced 280 runs and 314 hits in 28 games, eclipsing eight runs in 20 contests, and have recorded 10+ runs in 15 games—creating constant pressure with power and depth from top to bottom.
  • The lineup is anchored by one of the nation's most dangerous duos in Bella Holland (.561, 7 HR, 27 RBI) and Jordyn De Los Santos (.527, 12 HR, 44 RBI), both ranking among national leaders in multiple offensive categories. They are complemented by a deep supporting cast including Emily Liskai (.418, 30 RBI) and Cadence Colborn (.394, 26 RBI), giving WT a lineup where nearly every hitter is above .300.
  • In the circle, the Lady Buffs combine frontline dominance with depth, led by Brooke Janning (11-1, 1.76 ERA), who ranks among the LSC leaders in wins, ERA and strikeouts. Laci Peskey (11-2, 3.38 ERA) provides a strong No. 2 option, as the staff owns a 2.78 ERA with a 3.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio—top in the conference—while holding opponents to a .262 batting average.
  • Defensively, West Texas A&M is just as elite, leading the Lone Star Conference with a .982 fielding percentage (No. 5 nationally). The Lady Buffs have committed only 12 errors in 28 games and consistently convert routine plays, complementing their offense and pitching. Combined with their ability to control games early—evidenced by 12 run-rule wins—they present one of the most complete teams in Division II softball entering the series.
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