Pool Play Begins Thursday

GULF SHORES, Ala. (May 19, 2011) – The No.9 Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals open play in the NAIA National Championship Thursday with a 5:30 p.m. pool play contest against Simpson University (Calif.) at Gulf Shores Sportsplex. TOURNAMENT LINKS / WATCH ONLINE / ONLINE AUDIO LINK / LIVE SCORING / BRACKET & SCHEDULE / PRESS BOOK

LCU enters the tournament with an all-time record of 14-4 at the championships.  The Lady Chaps have made it out of pool play twice and won a NAIA title in 2008.  They are 50-9 overall and were the regular season co-champions in the Sooner Athletic Conference.  LCU leads the NAIA in stolen bases (155), rank second in hits (603) and third in runs scored (468), RBI (425), and batting (.374).  Kayla Van Dieren is second in the NAIA in hits with 89, with seven resulting in triples (fifth in the NAIA).  Kim Frazier ranks fourth in the NAIA with 19 home runs, and also ranks sixth in total bases (147), eighth in slugging (.907) and ninth in RBI (65).  LCU has a team ERA of 2.11 and Amanda Longorio is second in the NAIA with six saves.

Redding, Calif. based Simpson University is a member of the California Pacific Conference, where they went 12-3 in conference play.  Simpson, 28-16 overall, is making their first ever trip to the national championships.  The Red Hawks rank seventh in the NAIA in triples with 19 on the season. 

32 teams complete the field, with teams separated into eight four-team pools.  LCU is in a field being joined with No.13 Reinhardt University (Ga.), Simpson University (Calif.) and defending national champion Simon Fraser University (B.C.).  Teams must win their pools to advance to the eight-team double elimination bracket.

All of LCU’s pool play matches can be viewed online at www.lcuchaps.com. Online audio and live scoring will also be available.  Thursday’s game can be heard locally in Lubbock on KKAM 1340 AM “The Fan.”