KINGSVILLE, Texas- The Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball team will take on the Lubbock Christian Chaps in a four-game Lone Star Conference series at Nolan Ryan Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m., Thursday.  
 
The Javelinas (16-6, 14-6 LSC) faceoff with the Chaps (17-5, 15-5 LSC) after splitting a series against the St. Mary's Rattlers, that was bookended by two strong starting pitching performances. 
 
Senior Kolby Lunsford (Helotes, Texas) earned the win in the series opener against the Rattlers, scattering six hits across five innings, while allowing one run and striking out two. Later in the series, classmate Brandon Symmank (Cypress, Texas) punched out six in five solid innings for his third win of the season. Symmank leads the LSC in ERA at 1.73 and in opposing batting average at .183.
 
Sophomore Ivan Duarte (Juarez Mexico) and redshirt senior Kyler Bumstead (Kountze, Texas) carry momentum into the week, after Duarte went 5-10 against StMU with four RBIs and five walks, while Bumstead maintained a .500 batting average at the plate. Additionally, Bumstead leads the league in steals with 10.
 
The Hogs enter the week with the best WHIP in the conference at 1.30, and in shutouts with three. They also top the LSC in ERA at 3.75. At the plate, the team holds a 302 batting average, while sophomore Shelby Becker (Giddings, Texas) paces the team at .421 to go along with a 1.074 OPS.
 
The last time these two teams met, LCU got the better of TAMUK, taking a 2-1 series victory in the opening round of the LSC tournament. This time around, the Chaps boast some of the top hitters in the league, with Larry Leitha leading the LSC in home runs at seven, while the team maintains the second-best slugging percentage in the nation at .619. The team has nine hitters averaging over .300, including Eduardo Acosta, who holds a mark of .434 with 17 RBIs
 
On the mound, Peyton Huston leads LCU in wins with five, despite coming out of the bullpen in all seven appearances. The team holds a 6.43 ERA, with a .277 opponent batting average, and is coming off a series sweep over the Texas A&M International Dustdevils.
 
Be sure to check Javelinaathletics.com for updates throughout the weekend, including a recap at the conclusion of each day. Watch your Javelinas live on the Javelina Sports Network sponsored by Mendoza's Pharmacy. Stay up-to-date with everything Javelina baseball at JavelinaAthletics.com, follow the program on Twitter @JavelinaBSB, and see recent news on Facebook at /JavelinaBSB.
 
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