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TYLER, Texas (March 27, 2026) \u2013 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. \u00a0\u00a0
\nSeason Tidbits<\/p>\n
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\nCoach Talk<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\tLONE STAR CONFERENCE SOFTBALL
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\n\t\t\tUT Tyler
\n\t\t\tTyler, Texas
\n\t\t\t\u00a0Fri., Mar. 27
\n\t\t\t1 p.m.
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\n\t\t\tUT Tyler
\n\t\t\tTyler, Texas
\n\t\t\t\u00a0Fri., Mar. 27
\n\t\t\t3 p.m.
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\nLCU and UTT Series Snapshot<\/p>\n
\n\tUT Tyler holds an 13-3 advantage in the all-time series against Lubbock Christian, with their first meeting taking place on March 28, 2021.
\n\tThe 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).
\n\tLCU’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.
\n\tLubbock 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.
\n\tThe Lady Chaps have averaged 3.0 runs per game in the series, totaling 48 runs across 16 matchups.
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\n\tLubbock Christian is 16\u201314 overall and 12\u20138 in Lone Star Conference play through 30 games, sitting in seventh in the league standings. After opening the season 0\u20135, the Lady Chaps have gone 16\u20139 since. LCU went 5\u20133 on an eight-game road trip and followed going 2-2 at home for a 7-5 mark in their last 12 games.
\n\tOffensively, 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%).
\n\tLCU’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.
\n\t\u00a0Kadin Vire<\/a> 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.
\n\tAshlinn Hamilton<\/a> leads LCU with 27 RBI and four home runs, continuing to anchor the middle of the lineup.
\n\tCoryn Burris<\/a> has added 20 RBI and four home runs, while Brianna Chambers-Lee<\/a> has contributed 16 RBI and remains one of the team’s most consistent situational hitters.
\n\tAlexis Pacheco<\/a> 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.
\n\tAva Castillo<\/a> and Madison Hunter<\/a> lead the team with seven stolen bases each, with Hunter perfect on the season (7-for-7).
\n\tIn the circle, LCU owns a 3.68 team ERA (No. 6 in the LSC), with opponents hitting .268.
\n\tLexi Clark<\/a> (6\u20134, 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.
\n\tNatalee Gray<\/a> (6\u20134, 4.12 ERA) has recorded a team-best 31 strikeouts over 52.2 innings, holding opponents to a .249 average.
\n\tKendall Ward<\/a> (3\u20132, 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.
\n\tLCU 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.\u00a0
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\nDeeper Dive<\/p>\n
\n\tLCU is hitting .314 with runners in scoring position (88-for-280), a strong indicator of timely offense.
\n\tThe 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<\/a> (.714, 5-for-7) and Ashlinn Hamilton<\/a> (.455, 5-for-11) excelling at bringing runs home.
\n\tLCU owns a .343 leadoff on-base percentage (70-for-204), setting the tone offensively. Riley Flores<\/a> (.522) and Kadin Vire<\/a> (.652) have been especially effective at jumpstarting innings.
\n\tLCU is 15-1 when leading after six innings and 11-2 when leading after four, but just 2-10 when trailing after four\u2014highlighting how critical early scoring and momentum are to their success.
\n\tThe Lady Chaps are a perfect 12-0 when holding opponents to 0\u20132 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.
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\nLone Star Conference Breakdown<\/p>\n
\n\tThis season is LCU’s seventh season in the LSC.
\n\tLCU is 133-78 all-time in LSC play.
\n\tThe Lady Chaps went 26-18 last season in conference (third in the West Division standings at 18-10).
\n\tLCU is 12-8 this season in LSC play (opened up conference with a 4-0 start for the second time ever as LSC members).
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\n\t\tLubbock Christian has improved to 12\u20138 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\u20136) and remain within striking distance of the top five, while holding separation from a three-team cluster at 10\u201310 following their doubleheader sweep of Eastern New Mexico.
\n\t\tThe 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%).
\n\t\tKadin Vire<\/a> 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.
\n\t\tAshlinn Hamilton<\/a> 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.
\n\t\tRiley Flores<\/a> 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<\/a> (.289, 10 RBI) and Lexi Clark<\/a> (11 RBI) continue to provide steady production through the middle.
\n\t\tAdditional depth has come from Piper Garcia<\/a>, who is hitting .333 in conference play, while Ava Castillo<\/a> adds speed and situational value, going 4-for-5 in stolen base attempts.
\n\t\tIn the circle, Lexi Clark<\/a> has been a stabilizing force, going 5\u20133 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.
\n\t\tKendall Ward<\/a> 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.
\n\t\tAs 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.
\n\t\tDefensively, 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\u2014continuing to highlight one of the most efficient defensive units in NCAA Division II.
\n\t\tLCU 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\u20133 LSC) carrying major implications for positioning within the conference standings.
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\nOn The Road<\/p>\n
\n\tLCU is 8\u20134 in true road games this season, including a 6\u20134 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.
\n\tThe 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.
\n\tKendall Ward<\/a> has been dominant on the road, going 3\u20130 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.
\n\tNatalee Gray<\/a> is 3\u20132 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.
\n\tAlexis Clark is 2\u20132 with a 2.88 ERA in road games, recording two complete games and two shutouts across 24.1 innings pitched.
\n\tOffensively, 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.
\n\tKadin Vire<\/a> 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.
\n\tAshlinn Hamilton<\/a> 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.
\n\tLCU has outscored opponents 45\u201333 in road games and owns a 2\u20130 record in extra-inning road contests this season.
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\nStreaking Along<\/p>\n
\n\tKadin Vire<\/a> 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.
\n\tVire, again, is LCU’s active leader in consecutive games with a hit, as she has been successful in nine games.
\n\tRiley Flores<\/a> and Vire have each reached base safely in 12 consecutive games.
\n\tAdditionally, Vire leads LCU with 12 multi-hit performances (nine are two-hit games).
\n\tAshlinn Hamilton<\/a> leads LCU with six multi-RBI performances.
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