TYLER, Texas (March 27, 2026) – Lubbock Christian University is in the hunt with a vital road weekend in Lone Star Conference play, as they have a face a pair of teams sitting ahead of them in the LSC Standings, while a trio of teams enter the weekend on the heels of the Lady Chaps. LCU opens the weekend Friday at UT Tyler for a 1 p.m. doubleheader before heading to Denton, Texas Sunday for a noon doubleheader against Texas Woman's.
| LONE STAR CONFERENCE SOFTBALL |
| OPPONENT |
LOCATION |
DAY |
TIME (CT) |
VIDEO |
STATS |
WEATHER |
| UT Tyler |
Tyler, Texas |
Fri., Mar. 27 |
1 p.m. |
Watch |
Stats |
Weather |
| UT Tyler |
Tyler, Texas |
Fri., Mar. 27 |
3 p.m. |
Watch |
Stats |
Weather |
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LCU and UTT Series Snapshot
- UT Tyler holds an 13-3 advantage in the all-time series against Lubbock Christian, with their first meeting taking place on March 28, 2021.
- The Patriots have dominated recent matchups, winning the last 11 meetings, including an 8-2 and 6-2 win last season to complete a season series sweep (Feb. 22, 2025). Of the 11 straight wins, seven have been in Tyler and three in Lubbock (UTT has not been to Lubbock since Feb. 18, 2023).
- LCU's last win over UT Tyler came on May 13, 2022, when they secured a 5-1 victory in Tyler, Texas in the South Central Regional.
- Lubbock Christian has struggled on the road in the series, holding a 2-8 record in Tyler (10 of the 16 meetings have been in Tyler). They are 1-4 at home and 2-8 in conference matchups against UT Tyler.
- The Lady Chaps have averaged 3.0 runs per game in the series, totaling 48 runs across 16 matchups.
Season Tidbits
- Lubbock Christian is 16–14 overall and 12–8 in Lone Star Conference play through 30 games, sitting in seventh in the league standings. After opening the season 0–5, the Lady Chaps have gone 16–9 since. LCU went 5–3 on an eight-game road trip and followed going 2-2 at home for a 7-5 mark in their last 12 games.
- Offensively, LCU is hitting .280 as a team with 234 hits, including 44 doubles, six triples and 13 home runs, averaging 4.83 runs per game (145 total runs). They have also been aggressive on the bases, going 30-for-40 in stolen base attempts (75.0%).
- LCU's defense remains among the elite in NCAA Division II, ranking No. 2 nationally and No. 1 in the Lone Star Conference with 18 double plays turned (0.60 per game). The Lady Chaps are fielding at a .956 clip.
- Kadin Vire continues to pace the offense, hitting .421 (40-for-95) with 10 doubles, three triples and two home runs. She owns a .653 slugging percentage and .486 on-base percentage, while ranking among the top 10 in the LSC in batting average and top 100 nationally. Vire also leads the team with 27 runs scored and carries a nine-game hitting streak.
- Ashlinn Hamilton leads LCU with 27 RBI and four home runs, continuing to anchor the middle of the lineup.
- Coryn Burris has added 20 RBI and four home runs, while Brianna Chambers-Lee has contributed 16 RBI and remains one of the team's most consistent situational hitters.
- Alexis Pacheco continues to be one of the premier defenders in the nation, leading NCAA Division II and the LSC with 105 assists (3.50 per game). She has also added 21 hits, 14 RBI and three home runs offensively.
- Ava Castillo and Madison Hunter lead the team with seven stolen bases each, with Hunter perfect on the season (7-for-7).
- In the circle, LCU owns a 3.68 team ERA (No. 6 in the LSC), with opponents hitting .268.
- Lexi Clark (6–4, 2.64 ERA) has emerged as a frontline option, leading the staff with 58.1 innings pitched, three complete games and three shutouts, while limiting opponents to a .260 batting average.
- Natalee Gray (6–4, 4.12 ERA) has recorded a team-best 31 strikeouts over 52.2 innings, holding opponents to a .249 average.
- Kendall Ward (3–2, 2.81 ERA) co-leads NCAA Division II and the Lone Star Conference with seven saves, continuing to anchor the bullpen in late-game situations while extending her program-record career total.
- LCU enters the series with momentum after a doubleheader sweep of Eastern New Mexico, marking their seventh doubleheader sweep of the season and moving them firmly into the upper half of the Lone Star Conference standings.
Deeper Dive
- LCU is hitting .314 with runners in scoring position (88-for-280), a strong indicator of timely offense.
- The Lady Chaps are converting at a .290 clip (20-for-69) with runners at third base and less than two outs, with key contributors like Kadin Vire (.714, 5-for-7) and Ashlinn Hamilton (.455, 5-for-11) excelling at bringing runs home.
- LCU owns a .343 leadoff on-base percentage (70-for-204), setting the tone offensively. Riley Flores (.522) and Kadin Vire (.652) have been especially effective at jumpstarting innings.
- LCU is 15-1 when leading after six innings and 11-2 when leading after four, but just 2-10 when trailing after four—highlighting how critical early scoring and momentum are to their success.
- The Lady Chaps are a perfect 12-0 when holding opponents to 0–2 runs and 13-3 when opponents hit no home runs, reinforcing that their success is closely tied to pitching control and limiting damage rather than outslugging opponents.
Lone Star Conference Breakdown
- This season is LCU's seventh season in the LSC.
- LCU is 133-78 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 12-8 this season in LSC play (opened up conference with a 4-0 start for the second time ever as LSC members).
- Lubbock Christian has improved to 12–8 in Lone Star Conference play through 20 games, positioning themselves seventh in a tightly contested league race. The Lady Chaps sit just one game back of sixth-place Texas A&M-Kingsville (12–6) and remain within striking distance of the top five, while holding separation from a three-team cluster at 10–10 following their doubleheader sweep of Eastern New Mexico.
- The Lady Chaps are averaging 4.9 runs per game (97 runs) in conference play, hitting .273 as a team with 150 hits, including 28 extra-base hits (26 doubles, two triples) and 10 home runs. LCU has posted a .347 on-base percentage and .382 slugging percentage, while converting 20-of-25 stolen base attempts (80%).
- Kadin Vire continues to anchor the lineup, batting .397 (25-for-63) in conference action with six doubles, one triple and two home runs, producing a .619 slugging percentage and .472 on-base percentage. She enters the series on a nine-game hitting streak and is among the toughest players in the conference to strike out.
- Ashlinn Hamilton has been one of the league's most impactful two-way players, hitting .274 with four home runs and 19 RBI in conference play. In the circle, she has been dominant, posting a 0.95 ERA over 22.0 innings, holding opponents to a .169 batting average, providing a key boost in both starting and relief roles.
- Riley Flores is batting .348 with a .446 on-base percentage in LSC play and has consistently set the table at the top of the lineup, while Brianna Chambers-Lee (.289, 10 RBI) and Lexi Clark (11 RBI) continue to provide steady production through the middle.
- Additional depth has come from Piper Garcia, who is hitting .333 in conference play, while Ava Castillo adds speed and situational value, going 4-for-5 in stolen base attempts.
- In the circle, Lexi Clark has been a stabilizing force, going 5–3 with a 2.27 ERA across 46.1 innings in conference play, including three complete games and three shutouts, while limiting opponents to a .247 batting average.
- Kendall Ward has anchored the bullpen with five saves and a 1.85 ERA over 22.2 innings, holding opponents to a .205 average and continuing to serve as LCU's go-to option in late-game situations.
- As a staff, LCU owns a 3.58 ERA in conference play across 137.0 innings, allowing 133 hits with 71 strikeouts, while holding opponents to a .253 batting average.
- Defensively, the Lady Chaps have turned 11 double plays in LSC play and carry a .962 fielding percentage, while their 18 double plays overall lead the conference and rank among the top totals nationally—continuing to highlight one of the most efficient defensive units in NCAA Division II.
- LCU has now won two straight conference games following the sweep of Eastern New Mexico, using dominant pitching in the opener (11-0 run-rule behind Clark) and late-game execution in the nightcap (4-3). The momentum arrives at a critical point in the schedule, with upcoming matchups against top-tier programs like UT Tyler (17–3 LSC) carrying major implications for positioning within the conference standings.
On The Road
- LCU is 8–4 in true road games this season, including a 6–4 Lone Star Conference record away from home. The Lady Chaps opened the season with four consecutive road victories and have recorded four shutouts in 12 road contests.
- The Lady Chaps own a 2.41 ERA in road games, allowing 30 earned runs across 89.2 innings while holding opponents to a .228 batting average and surrendering just three home runs. LCU pitchers have combined for four complete games and four shutouts away from home.
- Kendall Ward has been dominant on the road, going 3–0 with a 0.31 ERA across 22.2 innings, allowing just one earned run on 16 hits while holding opponents to a .205 batting average with two saves.
- Natalee Gray is 3–2 with a 3.17 ERA in road appearances, tossing 28.2 innings while striking out 16 and limiting opponents to a .210 batting average. She highlighted her road performances with a perfect game at Vanguard and a stretch of 13 consecutive perfect innings pitched.
- Alexis Clark is 2–2 with a 2.88 ERA in road games, recording two complete games and two shutouts across 24.1 innings pitched.
- Offensively, LCU is hitting .264 in road games, totaling 85 hits with 24 extra-base hits (21 doubles, one triple and two home runs) while scoring 45 runs.
- Kadin Vire leads the road lineup with a .400 batting average (16-for-40), recording five doubles, one triple and one home run for a .650 slugging percentage and a .478 on-base percentage.
- Ashlinn Hamilton is batting .300 in road games, collecting 12 hits with two home runs and a team-leading 11 RBI, while posting a .525 slugging percentage.
- LCU has outscored opponents 45–33 in road games and owns a 2–0 record in extra-inning road contests this season.
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 nine games.
- Riley Flores and Vire have each reached base safely in 12 consecutive games.
- Additionally, Vire leads LCU with 12 multi-hit performances (nine are two-hit games).
- Ashlinn Hamilton leads LCU with six 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 604-232 (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 1,355 total games at LCU.
Looking at UTT
- UT Tyler enters the series at 25–7 overall and 17–3 in Lone Star Conference play, riding a 10-game winning streak. The Patriots have been one of the league's most consistent teams, posting 11–1 at home and 11–3 on the road, with their only conference series loss coming at Angelo State.
- UTT ranks among the top offenses in the conference, hitting .331 as a team (No. 3 in the LSC) while averaging 7.22 runs per game. The lineup features multiple threats, led by Kaylee Cavazos (.404) and Taryn Barney (.354, 8 HR, 30 RBI), with eight regulars hitting above .300.
- The Patriots lead the LSC with 62 doubles and rank top-15 nationally in doubles per game (1.94), emphasizing consistent extra-base production. They also sit No. 2 in the conference in RBI (203) and total runs (231), showcasing a lineup built to apply pressure inning-to-inning.
- UT Tyler carries a 3.02 team ERA (No. 3 in the LSC) with multiple reliable options in the circle. Kearston Gooch (10–2, 2.48 ERA) anchors the staff, while Alli Kimball (1.92 ERA) provides a low-ERA complement. The staff has combined for nine complete games and five shutouts, limiting opponents to a .263 batting average.
- This weekend marks LCU's first meeting against UT Tyler under its interim head coach Jason Miller. This season marks the first in UT Tyler program history that Mike Reed will not be at the helm. Reed announced his departure into a full-time athletics administration role within the UT Tyler athletic department in January. Miller joined the program in the summer of 2025 after an eight year stint at Grayson College and a one year run at Oklahoma Baptist. He helped guide the Bison to their first ever appearance in the GAC Championship game this past season after going 36-17 overall.
