LUBBOCK, Texas – The Chaps return to the field for the first time in eight days for a rare midweek contest, renewing an old rivalry with NAIA foe Southwestern University at Hays Field on Monday, March 20.
Southwestern University (16-12) at Lubbock Christian (15-9)
Monday, March 20 – 4:00 p.m.
Lubbock, Texas – Hays Field
AT THE OPENING
Prior to its Lone Star Conference-issued bye week, LCU went 2–2 against St. Mary’s on March 10–12. The Chaps opened the series in San Antonio with a 12-0 run rule victory in seven innings. aydan alger he pitched the entire game, allowing just two hits and walking three batters, while striking out six. eduardo acosta he led the Chaps on offense, going 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while also drawing two walks. The Chaps lost the second game of the series 7-4, as Acosta saw his 35-game base hitting streak end, the third-longest in program history. LCU responded with a 12-3 night cup victory, scoring nine unanswered runs in the fourth and fifth innings to pull away. Nate VanMaanen he hit two home runs in the doubleheader and went 3-for-4 with two runs and one RBI in game two. Lubbock Christian fell behind in game three against the Rattlers 10-2, but scored five runs to cut the lead to three. However, the Rattlers scored four runs late and held on to take the final game of the series 15-11.
THE NINE CHAPARRAL
• Lubbock Christian is second in the conference with 227 runs scored, seventh-most in D-II. The Chaps are averaging 9.5 runs per game, the 16th best scoring clip in Division-II.
• Chap’s infield defense has been fantastic this season as the group’s 22 double plays rank third in the country and lead the LSC. LCU has converted 0.92 double plays per game, the seventh-highest average in D-II.
• Van Maanen leads the conference and the nation with 42 RBIs. his teammate chris shul he ranks fourth in the LSC and eighth in D-II with 35 RBIs.
• Carson Ogilive ranks second in the LSC and third in the country with 38 runs scored, while Acosta is third in the LSC and fourth in the nation with 37 runs.
COSTING
eduardo acosta he’s been sweeping the plate this season as he’s third in the country with 37 runs, and third in the LSC in batting average (.436). His 41 total hits are the second most in the LSC this season and rank 10th in Division-II.
THAT IS OFFENSIVE
LCU has scored at will this season, as the Chaparrals’ 227 total runs are the second most in the Lone Star Conference and seventh in Division-II. The Chaps’ 264 hits lead the conference and are the eighth-most in the country. Lubbock Christian is second in the nation with 11 3-pointers, while Ogilvie is sixth in the country with three. The team’s 61 doubles lead the LSC and rank second in D-II, with Ogilvie leading the conference with 12 doubles so far this season.
TWENTY-ONE, CAN YOU DO SOMETHING FOR ME?
Nate VanMaanen he leads the conference and all of Division-II with 37 RBIs this season. On March 5 against OC, he went 5-for-5 with 10 RBI, three home runs and five runs scored. He ties the school record for RBIs in a single game set by Britt Harper on February 9, 2000, a 23-4 win for the Chaps over eastern New Mexico. He is also the first Chaparral to hit three home runs in one game since larry leitha He did it on May 8, 2021, curiously also against Oklahoma Christian. On defense, Van Maanen has been a stalwart at first base, posting a .988 fielding percentage and turning 16 double plays.
AL(GER) LONG NIGHT
aydan alger he has pitched two complete games this season, both seven-inning outings. His first was on February 23, playing all seven innings at Arkansas-Fort Smith, allowing just two hits and striking out nine on just 80 pitches in a 3-0 victory for the Chaps. On March 10, Alger shut out St. Mary’s, allowing just two hits, walking three and striking out six in Lubbock Christian’s 12–0 run-rule win over the Rattlers. Alger’s 3.93 ERA leads the team and is eighth in the Lone Star Conference.
PITCHER’S BEST FRIEND
LCU staff pitchers have benefited from strong infield defense behind them. lay in third, carson ogilvie at shortstop and caden hensley and ryan ball they have split playing time at second so far this season. Nate VanMaanen and jarred gibson They have part-time at first base. Chaparral’s infield has turned 22 double plays so far this season, the most in the LSC and the third-most in all of Division-II.
REGIONALLY RECOGNIZED
In the NCBWA regional preseason poll, the Chaps were voted seventh, with 28 points. It marks the first time the Chaps have been ranked in the NCBWA preseason regional poll since 2018, when LCU was picked second in the initial regional rankings. eduardo acosta he earned All-Region Team honors for the first time in his career. Acosta is the first Chap to earn NCBWA Preseason All-Region honors since Chandler Casey and Andrew Pratt were named to the team in 2019.
Acosta was also the first Chap to be honored with an NCBWA regional weekly award since Chandler Casey won the South Central Region Pitcher of the Week award on May 1, 2019, being named Region Hitter of the Week. NCBWA on February 8.
STRIPES AND MULTI
Acosta saw his 35-base game winning streak end on March 11, going 0-for-3 against St. Mary’s. That mark was the third-longest in the Chaps’ recorded history, behind Joel Lutz, who reached in 40 consecutive games during the 2013 season. Shull and Van Maanen lead the team, as they both reached base in all 24 games this season. season. Van Maanen currently has the team’s longest hitting streak, having recorded one hit in nine consecutive games.
FRIENDLY LOCKDOWNS
Lubbock Christian will play a 26-game schedule at home this season. Originally dedicated on April 29, 1978 as Chaparral Stadium, the complex was renamed Hays Field in 1999 to honor the LD, Pearl, Larry, and Daren Hays families for their dedication and commitment to the ideals and values of Lubbock Christian University. Hays Field’s playing dimensions measure 340 feet along the lines, 380 feet to the alleys, and 400 feet to the center. LCU is currently 8-4 on home soil, and the program is 1,145-349 in all-time home games. LCU won 20 home games last season for the first time since 2018 after back-to-back losing seasons at Hays Field.
2000 and COUNTING
Since the inception of the LCU baseball program in 1971, the Chaparral have been one of the best teams in baseball at any level they played. Lubbock Christian has played 3,308 games over those years, posting an overall program record of 2,216 wins and 1,096 losses in that time. For the past 20 seasons, he has been the head coach Nathan Blackwood leading the program, and has a record of 737-337 in that time.
EXPLORING THE MUSTANGS
– University of the Southwest enters the contest 16-12 overall and 5-7 in the Red River Athletic Conference. The Mustangs earned a series victory over Xavier (La.) this past weekend, including a 21-14 win in Game 3 of the series on March 18.
– Despite playing at the NAIA level, the Mustangs are 4-0 against Division II teams this season, sweeping a series over RMAC’s New Mexico Highlands. The Mustangs won the first game 3-2, then outscored the Cowboys 42-10 in the last three games.
– Gavin VanGronigen leads USW with a 3.90 batting average, and also leads the Mustangs with 29 RBIs and is third in the NAIA.
– The Mustangs are 0-1 in midweek games this season, falling to Wayland Baptist on March 14, 9-2
– Steve Appel is entering his ninth season in 2022-2023 as the head coach of USW Baseball. Appel has led the Mustangs to 181 wins and four postseason births in 7.5 seasons in the USW. In 2022, the Mustangs won 33 games and won two games in the conference tournament, the most since 2004, and set numerous individual team and program records.
THE SERIES WITH THE MUSTANGS
The former conference rivals will meet for the 133rd time on Monday, but the first time since 2017. Lubbock Christian won the last meeting 22-0, recording 24 hits and holding the Mustangs to just five hits. Most of Southwest’s victories have come during the 21st century, having won 11 games in the series since 2000, giving the Chaps a 47-11 series lead during that time period. LCU won 21 straight games over the Mustangs from March 10, 1995 to April 11, 2000, and is 55-9 in history at Hays Field against USW. The Mustangs’ last win was on February 25, 2014, a 5-0 win at Lubbock.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
The Chaps stay at home with a four-game conference series against world no. 3/3 Angelo State. The first game begins on Friday, March 24 at 6:00 p.m.
