UT Tyler vs. Lubbock Christian UTT: 6-2, 6-2 LSC | LCU: 5-3, 5-3 LSC Friday Feb. 17 - Sunday Feb. 19 Lubbock, Texas | Hays Field and City Bank Clubhouse

SCHEDULE

ROSTER

STATS

WHAT A WEEKEND
 
The Patriots enjoyed their best weekend of the young 2023 season so far and saw their offense light it up while getting some timely pitching to sweep St. Mary's and run their winning streak out to six games. The team scored 48 runs over four games in the series and came away with a pair of run-rule victories on Friday and Sunday. As a team, the Patriots hit .387 and had 16 extra base hits. The pitching staff stepped up big as well, holding the Rattlers bats to just .208 at the plate while posting 30 strikeouts on the way to allowing just 16 total runs.
 
GETTING STATISTICAL
 
For the Patriots, they rank inside the top 20 in several offensive categories through the first two weeks. The program is 7^th in home runs, 11^th in slugging percentage, 10^th in runs, 13^th in on-base percentage, 11^th in batting average, 10^th in hits, and 10^th in walks amongst all Division II competition.
 
On the individual side, Jordan Gochenour currently ranks 35^th in Division II in batting average at .516 and he is 5^th in Division II in total hits with 16. Austin Ochoa ranks 22^nd in RBI at 12, Adrian Minjares is 9^th in sacrifice flies with two, and Kaston Mason is third in the country in home runs with five so far.
 
WHAT COACH PORCHE IS SAYING
 
On the huge weekend: "Really great weekend for our guys. I thought they did a tremendous job of being prepared. We got the offense going game three in Oklahoma and have been able to produce between now and then. We did a really good job of putting the bat on the baseball and finding ways within free passes to score runs."
 
On the development of players from the staff: "That's a cornerstone of our program and always will be. Seeing guys like Kaston Mason who redshirted last year have some success that's a credit to him and the work he has put in as well as our coaching staff for putting the work in. It's also a big credit to the team for creating a great culture and I am happy as a coach to go out and be rewarded as a coach for putting that work in early."
 
On what the pitching staff needs to do this weekend: "I think that's one area we have to get better and it's specifically our starting pitching. We've been able to rely on some strong bullpen pitching but our starters don't need to overthink things and think they have to give us six or seven innings. Right now we just need to get to the fourth or fifth inning and then we can hand it over to our bullpen. They just need to go out from pitch number one and give us their best stuff. That is a big emphasis moving forward."
 
THE SCOUTING REPORT
 
Lubbock Christian will roll into this weekend's matchup at a record of 5-3 after winning their opening series against Cameron 3-1 and then splitting last weekend with UT Permian Basin.
 
The Chaps are the number three offensive team in the LSC with a .341 average. They have scored 80 runs thus far off of 93 hits and are slugging .546. Their pitching staff holds an ERA of 5.97 through 63.1 innings pitched. Their staff has allowed 49 total runs on 66 hits while striking out 54 batters and issuing 36 walks.
 
On the offensive side, Eduardo Acosta leads the way for the Chaps with a .515 average. He has an OPS of 1.215 while having 17 hits and three extra base hits. Acosta has driven in 12 runs and has drawn five walks while striking out just four times.
 
On the mound, Ryan Markwardt holds an ERA of 3.00 and a 1-0 record. He has thrown 12 innings and has allowed eight total runs, 12 hits, and has 12 strikeouts to two walks.
 
Nathan Blackwood leads the way for Lubbock Christian and is in the midst of his 20^th season in charge. Blackwood is the longest tenured coach in Chaps history, and holds the all-time win record in program history. Last season he led the chaps to a 34-18 year and an appearance in the LSC Baseball Tournament.
 
NEXT UP
 
Following this weekend's series, the Patriots will host #3 Angelo State in a huge matchup inside Irwin Field at the UT Tyler Ballpark. That series is set to begin on February 24^th at 7 p.m. and will conclude on February 26^th at 1 p.m.