LSC alters baseball, softball schedules

RICHARDSON, Texas — The Lone Star Conference announced changes to its baseball and softball schedules on Wednesday after the NCAA Division II Management and Presidents Council decided to eliminate the super-regional round of postseason play this spring in both sports.

Baseball regionals will be between four and six teams, with softball regionals having six squads.

Both sports in the LSC will now have an open weekend scheduled for May 7-9, reserved for potential makeup games.

The baseball conference tournament includes the top eight of 13 teams, with opening-round series set for May 14-15 at campus sites. Winners advance to a four-team, double-elimination event slated for May 20-22.

The tournament winner receives the LSC’s automatic qualifier bid to the NCAA D-II tourney, which begins on May 27 with regional-round competition.

Due to state health restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic, both Eastern New Mexico University squads are looking at playing all games out-of-state this spring, and all in the LSC. The school’s softball schedule is still being worked out, including a potential site for a doubleheader against Western New Mexico, presumably in Texas.

ENMU has already played its first two baseball series, dropping all three games at St. Edward’s and a Thursday twin bill at West Texas A&M. A Friday game at WT was postponed due to inclement weather.

The softball schedule, including 16 schools, is set up similar to basketball “travel partners.” Friday and Sunday twin bills are scheduled, with the visiting teams simply switching opponents for the latter games.

The Greyhounds are scheduled to open on March 5 at Texas A&M-Commerce before playing at Texas-Tyler two days later. ENMU’s travel partner is West Texas A&M, which plays at Tyler and then at Commerce.

The Hounds and Lady Buffs meet in a season-ending twin bill on Friday, April 30, in Canyon.

The conference will have a 10-team, single-elimination tournament, now scheduled for May 13-15 at the site of the No. 1 seed. The tourney winner receives the LSC’s automatic bid to the D-II tournament, which begins May 19 with a regional round.