RICHARDSON, Texas (April 9, 2026) – A late schedule change to avoid potential weather delays bumped a Lone Star Conference series up a day, as Lubbock Christian University heads to UTD Softball Field Thursday for a conference doubleheader against UT Dallas for the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
| LONE STAR CONFERENCE SOFTBALL |
| OPPONENT |
LOCATION |
DAY |
TIME (CT) |
VIDEO |
STATS |
WEATHER |
| UT Dallas |
Richardson, Texas |
Thur., Apr. 9 |
2 p.m. |
Watch |
Stats |
Weather |
| UT Dallas |
Richardson, Texas |
Thur., Apr. 9 |
4 p.m. |
Watch |
Stats |
Weather |
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LCU and UTD Series Snapshot
- LCU and UT Dallas have never faced each other.
Season Tidbits
- Lubbock Christian is 18–18 overall and 14–12 in Lone Star Conference play through 36 games, sitting tied for seventh in the league standings. After an 0–5 start, the Lady Chaps have gone 18–13 since, including a 10–6 road record. LCU enters the week on the heels of a home doubleheader sweep by Cameron and is 4-6 over its last 10 games.
- Offensively, LCU is hitting .277 as a team with 275 hits, including 51 doubles, seven triples and 14 home runs, averaging 4.61 runs per game (166 total runs). The Lady Chaps are 32-for-42 in stolen bases (76.2%), continuing to apply pressure on the basepaths.
- LCU continues to excel defensively, ranking second in NCAA Division II and leading the Lone Star Conference with 23 double plays (0.64 per game). The Lady Chaps are fielding .951 as a team.
- Kadin Vire remains one of the top hitters in the conference, batting .409 (47-for-115) with 12 doubles (top-10 LSC), four triples (top-3 LSC) and two home runs, posting a .635 slugging percentage and .473 on-base percentage. She leads LCU with 33 runs scored and ranks among the LSC leaders in hits (ninth) and average (seventh).
- Riley Flores is hitting .377 and has reached base safely in a team-best 15 consecutive games, while also adding five stolen bases and ranking second on the team in on-base percentage (.470).
- Ashlinn Hamilton leads the team with 30 RBI and has added four home runs, while also contributing in the circle with a 2.82 ERA across 39.2 innings. She enters the week on a six-game hitting streak.
- Freshman Coryn Burris leads the squad with five home runs and has driven in 24 RBI, while also ranking among the LSC leaders defensively with 72 assists (eighth).
- Brianna Chambers-Lee has produced 16 RBI and remains a key situational hitter, while Cat Prisock is hitting .281 with 13 runs scored in a versatile role.
- Alexis Pacheco continues to be one of the nation's premier defenders, ranking second in NCAA Division II and leading the Lone Star Conference with 118 assists (3.28 per game leads the nation).
- 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 3.72 team ERA (No. 5 in the LSC) with opponents hitting .262.
- Lexi Clark (7–6, 2.83 ERA) leads the staff with 71.2 innings pitched, recording three complete games and four shutouts.
- Natalee Gray (6–4, 4.17 ERA) and Clark share the team lead with 31 strikeouts, while Kendall Ward (4–3, 3.39 ERA) leads NCAA Division II and the LSC with eight saves, extending her program-record career total.
Deeper Dive
- Lubbock Christian is hitting .299 with runners in scoring position (97-for-324) and converting a scoring rate at .286 with runners at third and less than two outs (22-for-77), reflecting a lineup that continues to generate opportunities but has seen slight regression in conversion efficiency. Kadin Vire (.457, 16-for-35 RISP; .750 R3rd <2 outs)="" and="" ashlinn="" hamilton="" (.372,="" 16-for-43="" risp;="" .357="" r3rd=""><2 outs)="" remain="" the="" primary="" high-leverage="">
- The Lady Chaps own a .344 leadoff on-base percentage (84-for-244), with Riley Flores (.577) and Vire (.667) setting the tone at the top. Flores is also hitting .487 with the bases empty, providing a consistent spark to begin innings.
- LCU is hitting .296 with runners on base compared to .257 with the bases empty, reinforcing their ability to elevate production in traffic. Cat Prisock (.481 with runners on) and Hamilton (.348) have been among the most efficient in those situations.
- Situational advancement remains a strength, as LCU has successfully advanced runners in 49.7% of opportunities (284-for-572), with Prisock (.700), Castillo (.643) and Vire (.548) leading that category.
- The Lady Chaps continue to rely heavily on early momentum, going 12-2 when leading after four innings and 16-2 when leading after six, but just 2-15 when trailing after four and 2-16 when trailing after six.
- Run prevention remains the clearest indicator of success: LCU is 13-0 when holding opponents to two runs or fewer and 15-5 when opponents do not hit a home run, compared to just 3-13 when allowing a long ball.
- LCU is 14-4 when out-hitting opponents, but only 1-13 when being out-hit, underscoring the importance of offensive consistency and pressure throughout the lineup.
- The Lady Chaps are 9-3 when scoring first, but 9-15 when opponents strike first, continuing to highlight the value of early offensive execution.
- Production continues to scale with scoring output: LCU is 1-8 when scoring two runs or fewer, 9-8 when scoring 3–5 runs, and 8-2 when scoring six or more runs.
- In two-out situations, Coryn Burris leads the team with a .387 average (12-for-31), while Ashlinn Hamilton (.333) and Lexi Clark (.297) have also been reliable in extending innings (Burris and Clark co-lead LCU with 9 two-out RBI). Vire has added nine two-out hits and continues to be a key situational presence.
Lone Star Conference Breakdown
- This season is LCU's seventh season in the LSC.
- LCU is 135-82 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 14-12 in Lone Star Conference play, remaining firmly in the middle of a tightly contested standings race after opening league action with a 4-0 start for the second time as members.
- LCU is averaging 4.54 runs per game (118 total runs) in conference play, hitting .269 as a team (191-for-709) with 33 doubles, three triples and 11 home runs. The Lady Chaps carry a .338 on-base percentage and .371 slugging percentage, while converting 24-of-30 stolen base attempts (80.0%), continuing to show efficiency on the basepaths.
- Kadin Vire continues to anchor the lineup, batting .386 (32-for-83) in conference play with eight doubles, two triples and two home runs. She owns a .602 slugging percentage and .457 on-base percentage, while striking out just four times, remaining one of the toughest outs in the league.
- Ashlinn Hamilton remains one of the conference's top two-way performers, hitting .274 with four home runs and a team-high 22 RBI. In the circle, she holds a 1.52 ERA over 27.2 innings, limiting opponents to a .190 average while providing versatility in both starting and relief roles.
- Riley Flores is hitting .373 with a team-best .492 on-base percentage in LSC play, consistently setting the tone offensively, while Brianna Chambers-Lee (.270, 10 RBI) and Lexi Clark (11 RBI) continue to provide stability in the middle of the order.
- Additional depth has come from Piper Garcia, who is hitting .304 in conference games, while Coryn Burris has added power production with three home runs and 12 RBI. Ava Castillo continues to provide versatility with speed, going 4-for-6 in stolen base attempts.
- In the circle, Clark has been a stabilizing presence, going 6-5 with a 2.55 ERA across 60.1 innings, including three complete games and three shutouts, while holding opponents to a .249 batting average.
- Kendall Ward has anchored the bullpen with six saves and a 2.97 ERA over 33.0 innings, limiting opponents to a .227 average and continuing to serve as LCU's primary late-game option.
- As a staff, LCU owns a 3.52 ERA in conference play across 177.0 innings, allowing 169 hits with 84 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .249 batting average.
- LCU has outscored conference opponents 118-105, with their most productive inning coming in the fourth (36 runs), continuing to show a tendency to build offense in the middle frames.
- The Lady Chaps have shown competitiveness in tight conference games, going 3-1 in one-run contests and 6-5 in games decided by two runs or fewer, reinforcing their ability to stay within striking distance throughout conference play
On The Road
- LCU is 10–6 in true road games this season, including an 8–6 Lone Star Conference record away from home. The Lady Chaps opened the season with four consecutive road victories and have posted four shutouts in 16 road contests, while also going 2–0 in extra-inning games.
- The Lady Chaps own a 2.43 ERA in road games, allowing 40 earned runs across 115.0 innings, while holding opponents to a .218 batting average and surrendering just four home runs. LCU pitchers have combined for four shutouts and limited opponents effectively with a 1.11 WHIP.
- Kendall Ward has been dominant on the road, going 4–0 with a 0.68 ERA across 30.2 innings, allowing just three earned runs on 21 hits, while holding opponents to a .193 batting average with three saves.
- Natalee Gray is 3–2 with a 3.27 ERA in road appearances, tossing 30.0 innings with 16 strikeouts while limiting opponents to a .230 batting average.
- Lexi Clark is 3–3 with a 3.15 ERA in road games, recording two complete games and two shutouts across 33.1 innings pitched, continuing to provide stability in the rotation.
- Ashlinn Hamilton has added value in the circle with a 1.80 ERA over 11.2 road innings, holding opponents to a .190 batting average in limited action.
- Offensively, LCU is hitting .241 in road games, totaling 111 hits with 34 extra-base hits (26 doubles, three triples and five home runs) while scoring 60 runs.
- Kadin Vire leads the road lineup with a .404 batting average (21-for-52), recording seven doubles, two triples and one home run for a .673 slugging percentage and .483 on-base percentage, while striking out just twice.
- Riley Flores is hitting .348 with a .483 on-base percentage in road games, while Ashlinn Hamilton is batting .296 with two home runs and a team-high 12 RBI.
- Coryn Burris has added power production with two home runs and five RBI, while Brianna Chambers-Lee has driven in seven runs and recorded five doubles in road contests.
- LCU has outscored opponents 60–47 in road games this season, continuing to pair efficient pitching with timely offense in away environments.
Streaking Along
- Kadin Vire had a 12-game hit streak, which is the longest streak of the season by a Lady Chap.
- Ashlinn Hamilton actively leads LCU with hits in six straight games.
- Riley Flores has reached base safely in 15 consecutive games, which is the longest by a Lady Chaps member this season.
- Additionally, Vire leads LCU with 14 multi-hit performances (10 are two-hit games).
- Ashlinn Hamilton leads LCU with seven 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 606-236 (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 1,361 total games at LCU.
Looking at UTD
- UT Dallas enters the week at 10-22 overall and 8-16 in Lone Star Conference play, sitting 12th in the league standings as they navigate their first season at the NCAA Division II level after transitioning from Division III. While the Comets are not eligible for postseason play during the transition period, they have remained competitive within the league, securing eight conference wins and positioning themselves as a team capable of impacting the middle of the standings.
- The Comets face one of their most demanding stretches of the season, playing six games over four days, which began with a midweek doubleheader against Southeastern Oklahoma State Wednesday before hosting Lubbock Christian on Thursday and Midwestern State on Saturday. The schedule shift due to weather condenses an already taxing slate, testing UT Dallas' depth both in the circle and defensively, particularly with a pitching staff that has logged 203.0 innings and carries a 5.93 ERA.
- Offensively, UT Dallas is hitting .280 as a team and has produced 230 hits with 19 home runs, led by Julia Maniscalco (.337, 15 doubles, 4 home runs) and Rachel Wallace (.317, 19 RBI). Avery Martin (.311) and Claire Pollack (.310) provide consistency at the top of the order, while Cadence Hernandez adds power with four home runs. The Comets have shown the ability to generate traffic, drawing 99 walks and posting a .371 on-base percentage, but have also stranded 191 runners, highlighting inconsistency in timely hitting.
- In the circle, Katie Hart (2.81 ERA) has been UT Dallas' most reliable option, while Savannah Vanderpool has provided swing-and-miss ability with a team-high 43 strikeouts despite a 4.54 ERA. Mere Cavazos (2-8, 4.65 ERA) has handled a heavy workload in the rotation, but the staff overall has allowed opponents to hit .317 with 35 home runs, placing added pressure on the offense to keep pace in high-scoring games.
- Defensively and situationally, UT Dallas has struggled to limit opponent opportunities, allowing 222 runs while committing 45 errors and 15 passed balls. They have 25 stolen bases, while allowing 58.
