Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raider Softball Set to Begin 2006 Season
February 08, 2006 | Softball
Feb. 8, 2006
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LUBBOCK, Texas -- Year two of the Teresa Wilson era of Texas Tech softball kicks off on Thursday as the Red Raiders begin their 16th season of softball with a doubleheader against the University of Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Fla., before traveling to St. Augustine, Fla., to participate in the Triple Crown Classic, Feb., 10-12.
At the Triple Crown Classic, Texas Tech will face a pair of NCAA tournament teams from a season ago in Southern Illinois and Central Florida. The Golden Knights of Central Florida have a unique tie to Texas Tech as they are led by former Red Raider softball head coach Renee Luers-Gillipsie, who headed the Tech program from 1996-2000.
In 2005, despite joining the program just weeks prior to the beginning of the season, Wilson helped the Red Raiders improve their winning percentage a significant amount from the previous season, finishing with a 23-25 record. Now with a full year under her belt in Lubbock, Wilson and the Red Raiders look to continue improving and rebuilding the program in 2006. The team returns 13 letterwinners from last season, a figure that includes six position starters as well as three pitchers. Seven newcomers also join the squad and will be expected to contribute immediately as well as providing much needed depth at several positions.
The Red Raiders will tackle some of the stiffest competition in the country this season as they take on a tough schedule. Tech will spend the first seven weekends of the season on the road as they travel to six non-conference tournaments. During that span, the Red Raiders will take on many teams which appeared in the NCAA tournament a season ago, included several from the Women's College World Series. Following the challenging non-conference slate, Tech jumps into Big 12 action. The league, which celebrates its 10 year anniversary this season, will be tough again this season after sending eight teams to the post season last year.
Returning after a sensational freshman campaign in which she led the Raiders in almost every offensive category, Jennifer Corkin will again be at the heart of the Texas Tech line-up and will see action at both first base and catcher. In 2005, Corkin paced the team in batting average (.287), home runs (5), RBI (35), slugging percentage (.493) and on-base percentage (.386). The Red Raiders also return the rest of their starting infield, including defensive standouts at shortstop with junior Heather Parker and at second base with sophomore Jennifer Bowers. Junior Natalie Kula returns as a two-year starter at the hot corner, but could be pressed for playing time by several newcomers.
In the outfield, junior Ashley Parker returns as a two-year starter and will most likely again set the table for the Red Raiders as their leadoff hitter. Several players will look to replace departed seniors in left and right field. Among the candidates for the starting nods will be sophomores Whitney Riley and Devin Zaragoza as well as redshirt freshman Montana Patin.
Sophomore Robyn Wike, who joined the program after playing one season at the University of Washington, will team with Corkin to handle duties behind the plate.
In the circle, seniors Erin Crawford and Julie Hauck look to leave their mark on the program in their final seasons in Lubbock. Crawford led the Raiders in most pitching categories during the 2005 season, including a career-high 14 victories, while Hauck was impressive in the fall and enters the season looking strong. Sophomore Sarah Losleben returns after posting eight victories as a rookie in 2005, while freshman Megan Shupp and Alex Watkins also enter the mix this season.
The Red Raiders will not take the field at Rocky Johnson Field until April 1, when they host the Texas A&M Aggies in their home opener.
