Texas Tech University Athletics
Softball To Open Season This Weekend
February 04, 2004 | Softball
Feb. 4, 2004
LUBBOCK, Texas - After months of preparing, the Texas Tech softball team will take the field this weekend to begin its 2004 season when it travels to San Marcos, Texas, to take part in the Texas State Softball Tournament.
The Lady Raiders will play in five games in three days during the tournament. The team will take the field for the first time on Friday, Feb. 6, at 9 a.m. to face Texas A&M Corpus Christi and at 1 p.m. against Tulsa. Tech will return to the field on Saturday to take on tournament host Texas State at 11 a.m. and UTSA at 5 p.m. The Lady Raiders will conclude the tournament on Sunday at 10 a.m. when they battle New Mexico State.
Tech will be led into the tournament by last season's leading hitter Kelly Rhyne. A year ago, Rhyne led the team in batting average with a .316 average home runs with nine and RBI with 35. Rejoining Rhyne in the heart of the line-up will be seniors Andrea Joachims, Elyssa Sigala and junior Lisa Lawler. Junior College transfer Natalie Enderlin will see time in the outfield after a two-year stint at Navarro Junior College where she was named NJCAA third team All-American.
In the circle the Lady Raiders feature only one returning pitcher, Erin Crawford, and a trio of newcomers. Joining the pitching staff this season will be junior Keely Tucker, who comes to Tech after a successful junior college career at Navarro Junior College and sophomore Julie Hauck, a transfer from Florida State, who was the top pitcher out of the state of Oklahoma a year ago. Also in the mix will be Kassy Planck, a talented freshman from Palm Desert, Calif.
The team will have to get adjusted to life on the road, as the team will play 20m of its first 22 games away from Lubbock. The team will begin Big 12 play on March 27 at Rocky Johnson Field when they host the Iowa State Cyclones.
For tickets to Texas Tech softball please contact (888) GO-BIG-12 or (806) 742-TECH or stop by the Texas Tech Athletic Ticket Office in the north end of Jones SBC Stadium. Tickets also can be purchased through the Texas Tech athletic website at www.texastech.com and at area United Supermarket and Select-a-Seat locations.
