Texas Tech University Athletics
Softball Opens 2002 Season in San Marcos
January 31, 2002 | Softball
Jan. 31, 2002
SAN MARCOS, Texas - The 2002 softball team will swing into action Friday afternoon at the B&G Properties Tournament in San Marcos, Texas, as it takes on the Oregon Ducks and Southwest Texas State Bobcats.
This year's squad is not short on experience as it returns 12 lettermen including three seniors. Eva Harshman is embarking on her fourth and final season wearing the scarlet and black and has started all but three of the 178 games she has played in. Harshman's 178 games ranks fifth on Tech's all-time list and barring injury she should finish near the top of the list.
Also back from last season is first baseman Carmen Grindell who belted a team leading seven homeruns and Tracy Cartier who had a pair of four game hitting streaks and 13 multi-hit games.
Gone from last season is pitcher Amanda Renfro who was an All-American selection and holds every Texas Tech pitching record and one of Tech's most prolific offensive players in Sandy Butler.
New to the team this year are a pair of West Valley Junior College transfers Esmerelda Perez and Kristi Robles. Perez stole 66 bases and was named California State Junior College Player of the Year in 2001 while Robles was a first team All-State selection. Freshman pitcher Amie Stines will be looked upon to hold down a pitching staff that is returning only Maggie Ayres who has 68.1 innings of experience.
The B&G Properties Tournament will run through Sunday as Tech will play Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Houston on Saturday before wrapping up the weekend with Oregon.
