LUBBOCK, Texas (April 3, 2026) – Lubbock Christian University aims to dial-in on their April portion of the season, as the Lady Chaparrals, who have split each of their last two doubleheaders, complete a Lone Star Conference home-and-home doubleheader season series with Cameron Friday with a 4 p.m. doubleheader at Maner Park.
| LONE STAR CONFERENCE SOFTBALL |
| OPPONENT |
LOCATION |
DAY |
TIME (CT) |
VIDEO |
STATS |
WEATHER |
| Cameron |
Maner Park |
Fri., Apr. 3 |
4 p.m. |
Watch |
Stats |
Weather |
| Cameron |
Maner Park |
Fri., Apr. 3 |
6 p.m. |
Watch |
Stats |
Weather |
| TICKETS |
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LCU and CU Series Snapshot
- LCU is 2-0 this season against Cameron, sweeping a Mar.1 doubleheader 10-6 and 2-0 in Lawton, Okla. to improve their all-time series lead to 13-6 against the Aggies.
- LCU has won five straight meetings, including a 15-6 and 5-1 win over the Aggies on Feb. 14, 2025 in their last visit to Lubbock, where LCU holds a 5-2 all-time mark in the series.
- Of the 19 meetings, only two have been one-run games.
- A deeper look at this season's series…
- Ashlinn Hamilton powered the Lady Chaps offensively, homering in both games and finishing the day 3-for-7 with three RBI, including the game-winning run in the nightcap.
- Lexi Clark delivered a dominant performance in Game 2, tossing a complete-game two-hit shutout to seal the sweep and mark LCU's fifth shutout victory of the season.
- LCU used a decisive nine-run fourth inning in Game 1 to erase an early deficit, highlighting a trend of explosive innings, while also showcasing improved pitching and defense by holding Cameron Aggies scoreless in the final game.
Season Tidbits
- Lubbock Christian is 18–16 overall and 14–10 in Lone Star Conference play through 34 games, sitting seventh in the league standings. After an 0–5 start, the Lady Chaps have gone 18–11 since, including a 10–6 road record. LCU most recently split a road doubleheader at Texas Woman's, rebounding with a 7-2 win in the finale to move to 6-4 in their last 10 games played.
- Offensively, LCU is hitting .277 as a team with 260 hits, including 49 doubles, seven triples and 14 home runs, averaging 4.71 runs per game (160 total runs). The Lady Chaps are 33-for-44 in stolen bases (75.0%), continuing to apply pressure on the basepaths.
- LCU continues to excel defensively, ranking second in NCAA Division II and the leading the Lone Star Conference with 21 double plays (0.62 per game). The Lady Chaps are fielding .952 as a team.
- Kadin Vire remains one of the top hitters in the conference, batting .421 (45-for-107, 6th) with 12 doubles (fourth), four triples (second) and two home runs, posting a .664 slugging percentage and .488 on-base percentage. She ranks top-10 in the LSC in average and leads LCU with 32 runs scored (10th).
- Ashlinn Hamilton leads the team with 28 RBI and has added four home runs, while also contributing in the circle with a 2.74 ERA across 38.1 innings.
- Freshman Coryn Burris leads the squad with five home runs and has driven in 23 RBI, while also ranking among the LSC leaders defensively with 67 assists (8th in LSC).
- Brianna Chambers-Lee has produced 16 RBI and remains a key situational hitter, while Riley Flores is hitting .359 and recently extended her on-base streak to 13 games.
- Alexis Pacheco continues to be one of the nation's premier defenders, ranking second in NCAA Division II with 114 assists (3.35 per game).
- On the bases, Madison Hunter is a perfect 8-for-8 in stolen bases, while Ava Castillo has added seven steals.
- In the circle, LCU owns a 3.57 team ERA (No. 5 in the LSC) with opponents hitting .261.
- Lexi Clark (7–5, 2.81 ERA) leads the staff with 67.1 innings pitched, recording three complete games and three shutouts, while limiting opponents to a .251 average.
- Natalee Gray (6–4, 4.15 ERA) has a team-high 31 strikeouts, while Kendall Ward (4–2, 2.64 ERA) leads NCAA Division II and the LSC with eight saves, extending her program-record career total.
- LCU has split each of its last two Lone Star Conference doubleheaders (at UT Tyler and Texas Woman's) after opening the season without a split in its first 12 twin bills.
Deeper Dive
- Lubbock Christian is hitting .306 with runners in scoring position (94-for-307) and have a conversion rate of .280 with runners at third and less than two outs, highlighting a lineup that consistently produces in key moments. Kadin Vire (.500, 16-for-32 RISP; .750 R3rd <2 outs)="" and="" ashlinn="" hamilton="" (.385,="" 15-for-39="" risp)="" continue="" to="" anchor="" high-leverage="">
- The Lady Chaps own a .339 leadoff on-base percentage (78-for-230), with Vire (.652) and Riley Flores (.522) serving as the primary table-setters. Flores is also hitting .457 with the bases empty, giving LCU a strong spark at the top of innings.
- LCU is hitting .299 with runners on base compared to .256 with the bases empty, reinforcing their ability to elevate production in traffic. Cat Prisock (.500 with runners on) and Hamilton (.355) are among the most efficient in those spots.
- The Lady Chaps have shown a clear dependence on early momentum, going 12-2 when leading after four innings and 16-2 when leading after six, but just 2-13 when trailing after four and 2-14 when trailing after six.
- Run prevention remains the biggest key to success: LCU is 13-0 when holding opponents to two runs or fewer and 15-4 when opponents do not hit a home run, compared to 3-12 when allowing a long ball.
- LCU is 14-3 when out-hitting opponents, but just 1-12 when being out-hit, further emphasizing the importance of offensive consistency.
- The Lady Chaps are 9-3 when scoring first, but 9-13 when opponents strike first, continuing to stress the value of early pressure offensively.
- Production scales predictably with scoring output: LCU is 1-7 when scoring two runs or fewer, 9-7 when scoring 3–5 runs, and 5-1 when scoring 6–9 runs.
- In two-out situations, Alexis Clark leads the team with 11 two-out hits and nine two-out RBI, while Hamilton (.357) and Coryn Burris (.379) have also been reliable in extending innings.
Lone Star Conference Breakdown
- This season is LCU's seventh season in the LSC.
- LCU is 135-80 all-time in LSC play.
- The Lady Chaps went 26-18 last season in conference (third in the West Division standings at 18-10).
- Lubbock Christian is 14-10 in Lone Star Conference play, opening league action with a 4-0 start for the second time as members and continuing to position themselves in the middle of a tightly contested standings race.
- LCU is averaging 4.7 runs per game (112 total runs) in conference play, hitting .270 as a team (176-for-652) with 31 doubles, three triples and 11 home runs. The Lady Chaps carry a .338 on-base percentage and .377 slugging percentage, while converting 23-of-29 stolen base attempts (79.3%), showing efficiency on the basepaths.
- Kadin Vire continues to anchor the lineup, batting .400 (30-for-75) in conference play with eight doubles, two triples and two home runs. She owns a .640 slugging percentage and .477 on-base percentage, while striking out just three times, establishing herself as one of the most difficult outs in the league.
- Ashlinn Hamilton remains one of the conference's top two-way performers, hitting .276 with four home runs and a team-high 20 RBI. In the circle, she holds a 1.36 ERA over 25.2 innings, limiting opponents to a .191 average while providing versatility in both starting and relief roles.
- Riley Flores is hitting .348 with a .456 on-base percentage in LSC play, consistently setting the tone offensively, while Brianna Chambers-Lee (.286, 10 RBI) and Alexis Clark (11 RBI) continue to provide stability in the middle of the order.
- Additional depth has come from Piper Garcia, who is hitting .350 in conference games, while Ava Castillo adds versatility with speed (four stolen bases) and situational execution, helping manufacture runs.
- In the circle, Clark has been a stabilizing presence, going 6-4 with a 2.53 ERA across 55.1 innings, including three complete games and four shutouts, while holding opponents to a .238 batting average.
- Kendall Ward has anchored the bullpen with six saves and a 1.83 ERA over 30.2 innings, limiting opponents to a .193 average and continuing to serve as LCU's primary late-game option.
- As a staff, LCU owns a 3.44 ERA in conference play across 163.0 innings, allowing 154 hits with 79 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .246 batting average.
- LCU's conference run production has been strongest in the middle innings, scoring 32 runs in the fourth inning alone, their highest output in any frame, while outscoring opponents 112-95 overall in league play.
- The Lady Chaps have also shown success in close games, going 3-1 in one-run contests and 6-3 in games decided by two runs or fewer, reinforcing their ability to execute in tight situations.
Home Sweet Home
- LCU is 354-67 (84.1%) 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, Lubbock Christian is 6-4 at home, with all 10 games coming in Lone Star Conference play. The Lady Chaps have secured series sweeps over UT Permian Basin, Midwestern State, and Eastern New Mexico, while facing nationally ranked Angelo State and West Texas A&M at Maner Park.
- LCU has outscored opponents 62-48 at home (+14 run differential), averaging 6.2 runs per game while allowing 4.8 runs per contest, showing improved production and separation compared to earlier in the season.
- Offensively, the Lady Chaps are hitting a strong .332 at Maner Park, producing 83 hits in 250 at-bats with a .404 on-base percentage and .452 slugging percentage. LCU has gone 14-for-15 (93.3%) on stolen base attempts, continuing to show elite efficiency on the bases.
- Kadin Vire continues to set the tone, hitting .400 (12-for-30) at home with a .471 on-base percentage and .633 slugging percentage, while scoring a team-high 11 runs.
- Alexis Clark has been a key two-way contributor, batting .400 (10-for-25) with seven RBI, while going 3-1 in the circle with a 1.59 ERA across 22.0 innings, including two shutouts.
- Alexis Pacheco has provided power production, hitting .360 with two home runs and eight RBI, posting a .640 slugging percentage at home.
- Riley Flores (.348, .429 OBP) and Brianna Chambers-Lee (.348, .444 OBP) have provided consistent table-setting and run production in the middle of the lineup.
- Additional depth has come from Piper Garcia (.500) and Ava Castillo (.600, .667 OBP), boosting overall offensive efficiency in limited opportunities.
- In the circle, LCU owns a 4.52 ERA at home across 62.0 innings, allowing 67 hits with 39 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .267 batting average.
- Ashlinn Hamilton has been highly effective, posting a 1.00 ERA over 14.0 innings, while also contributing nine RBI offensively.
- Natalee Gray has added two wins in the rotation, while Kendall Ward leads the bullpen with three saves, continuing to serve as LCU's primary late-game option.
- Defensively, LCU holds a .954 fielding percentage at home and has turned six double plays, reinforcing a steady defensive presence behind the pitching staff.
- The Lady Chaps have shown offensive explosiveness at Maner Park, highlighted by run-rule wins over UT Permian Basin (9-1, 14-0) and Eastern New Mexico (11-0), while their four losses have come against nationally ranked Angelo State and West Texas A&M—adding context to the 6-4 home mark.
- LCU has been particularly strong in the middle innings at home, scoring 20 runs in the fourth inning alone, their highest output in any frame, while currently riding a two-game home winning streak.
Streaking Along
- Kadin Vire had a 12-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.
- Ashlinn Hamilton actively leads LCU with hits in four straight games.
- Riley Flores has reached base safely in 13 consecutive games.
- Additionally, Vire leads LCU with 14 multi-hit performances (10 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 606-234 (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 1,359 total games at LCU.
Looking at CU
- Cameron enters the series hitting .310 as a team (6th in the LSC) and averaging 6.38 runs per game, with one of the deepest lineups in the league. Haley Gardella leads the charge at .419 with 16 home runs and 49 RBI, ranking among the conference leaders in power (16 homers ranks second in the nation and leads the LSC), while Brynn Webber (.397, .484 OBP) and Chloe Broussard (.500 OBP) provide elite table-setting in front of her.
- The Aggies lead the Lone Star Conference with 66 doubles, ranking 13th nationally, and have recorded 352 total hits (2nd in the LSC). Madysen Boutwell (11 doubles, 41 RBI) and Gardella headline a lineup built on extra-base damage rather than just home runs.
- Stormee Reed anchors the staff with an 8-6 record and 129 strikeouts, leading the LSC at 9.4 strikeouts per seven innings. However, Cameron's pitching staff holds a 4.83 ERA and allows a .288 opponent average, creating volatility game-to-game.
- Cameron is 19-20 overall and 11-15 in LSC play, sitting in the middle tier of the standings. They have alternated momentum swings, including doubleheader sweeps of St. Edward's and UT Permian Basin, but also conference series losses to Angelo State and West Texas A&M. Most recently, they split at Southern Nazarene, rallying from a 7-0 deficit to win the non-conference finale.
- LCU swept the first meeting 10-6 and 2-0, overcoming an early 3-0 deficit in Game 1 with an eight-run fourth inning, before a two-hit shutout in Game 2. Cameron showed its offensive upside with three home runs in the opener, but was limited to just two hits in the nightcap.
