Date	Time	Opponent	Location	Venue	Live Links
Friday, May 3	6:00 p.m.	UAFS	Canyon, Texas	Wilder Park	Stats | LSC Digital Network | Game Notes
Saturday, May 4	3:00 p.m.	UAFS	Canyon, Texas	Wilder Park	Stats | LSC Digital Network | Game Notes
Sunday, May 5	1:00 p.m. (If Nec.)	UAFS	Canyon, Texas	Wilder Park	Stats | LSC Digital Network | Game Notes

CANYON, Texas – The #11 Buffaloes open up the postseason inside the friendly confines of Wilder Park this weekend as they host the Lions of Arkansas-Fort Smith in a best-of-three series during the opening weekend of the 2024 Lone Star Conference Championships. Friday's opener is set for 6:00 p.m. followed by game two on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. with the if necessary game three schedules for Sunday at 1:00 p.m. in Canyon.
 
A LOOK AT THE LIONS
Arkansas-Fort Smith enters the opening weekend of the LSC Championship as the seventh seed, holding an overall record of 23-25 following a series split last weekend at UT Tyler as the Lions picked up victories in game two (7-5) and game four (3-2) to punch their ticket to the LSC postseason for the first time since 2021. 
 
Michael Brinton leads the way offensively for the Lions as the senior outfielder from Keller, Texas is hitting .339 with 21 doubles, four triples and a homerun to drive in 40 RBI for a slugging percentage of .530 to go along with 29 walks and 37 strikeouts for an on-base clip of .442. Potential game two starter Brayden Ross is 7-4 on the year with a 5.63 ERA as the junior righty from Charleston, Arkansas has allowed 42 runs (40 earned) on 80 hits with 15 walks and 49 strikeouts in his 64.0 innings of work for an opposing batting average of .307.
 
UAFS HEAD COACH TODD HOLLAND
Todd Holland is now in his 10th season as the skipper of the Arkansas-Fort Smith baseball program, holding an overall record of 226-219 during his time in Fort Smith. Holland is 530-429 overall during his collegiate baseball career as he took over the UAFS program in 2014 following a stint as the head coach at Cameron. He guided the Lions to their best season in school history back in 2017, finishing 35-22 overall with the first ever trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Buffs and Lions square off on the diamond for the 23rd time on Friday night as WT leads the all-time series, 16-6. The series dates back to the 2017 campaign and this weekend could mark the final meeting between the two schools as UAFS makes a transition to the MIAA this summer. The Lions are 2-8 all-time in Canyon as they have dropped their last seven games in the Texas Panhandle. Earlier this season the Buffs won three-of-four games at Crowder Field in Fort Smith on Easter Weekend by a combined scored of 44-17.
 
THE BUFFS IN THE LSC TOURNAMENT
West Texas A&M is making their 12th straight and 14th overall appearance in the Lone Star Conference Championships beginning this weekend in Canyon. WT has made six appearances in the LSC Title Game with three tournament crowns (2016, 2017, 2019). The Buffs are 18-21 all-time in the event with appearances coming in (1994, 2006, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024). WT has claimed 34 All-Tournament selections including three MVP honors (Kyle Tinius - 2016, Dominic Yearego - 2017, Keone Givens - 2019).
 
WT HEAD COACH MATT VANDERBURG
Matt Vanderburg has built West Texas A&M Baseball into a regional and national contender as the Norman, Oklahoma native is now in his 16th season at the helm of the Buffs. He holds an overall record of 513-283 (.647) during his time in Canyon while registering a career record of 612-355 (.635) in his 19 seasons in collegiate baseball.
 
THE COACHING STAFF
Cory Hall is now in his 14th year at West Texas A&M as the Buffs' Pitching Coach, serving the last eight as the program's Associate Head Coach. Hall has had four different pitchers drafted in the Major League Baseball Draft during his time in Canyon with multiple other professional players learning under one of the top pitching minds in collegiate baseball. Assistant Coach Shawn Neale was named WT's Recruiting Coordinator in 2022 as the Toronto native returns for his eighth season in Canyon. The Buffs welcome Bret Simmermacher as a Volunteer Assistant for the 2024 campaign.
 
LSC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
The conference championship is a two-week event. The first week includes four, best-of-three series on May 3-5 (Friday-Sunday), hosted by the higher seed in each matchup. The winner of each opening round series will advance to a double-elimination tournament on May 9-11 (Thursday-Saturday) hosted by the highest remaining seed.
 
LSC DIGITAL NETWORK
The LSC Digital Network is in its fifth season showcasing the academic and athletic events of the league and its 18 member institutions. Volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's basketball, baseball and softball broadcasts will be available via conference-wide pay-per-view passes.
   
The LSC Digital Network will offer season passes for football, volleyball, soccer, basketball, baseball and softball, giving fans access to all regular season contests for that sport. In addition, viewers will continue to have the option to purchase a $10 day pass that provides access to all broadcasts aired that day and access to all archived content for 24 hours.