Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raider Softball Prepares for Shocker Invitational
March 09, 2006 | Softball
March 9, 2006
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LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech softball team continues its tournament season this weekend as the Red Raiders travel to Wichita, Kan., to take part in the 2006 Shocker Invitational hosted by Wichita State University.
After four straight tournaments of facing top-tear softball talent, this will be the first weekend that Texas Tech is not slated to face off against a team in the Top 25 or a NCAA-tournament team from a season ago. So far this season, the Red Raiders have taken the field 14 times against teams that were featured in the NCAA playoff during the 2005 season, including eight games versus squads ranked in the national rankings. The field at this weekend's Shocker Invitational includes Missouri State, Northern Colorado and tournament-host Wichita State.
During last weekend's Worth Invitational in Fullerton, Calif., the Red Raiders struggled to get things going offensively, but one of the highlights was sophomore second baseman Jennifer Bowers. The Deer Park, Texas, native posted her best game since returning from a injury suffered earlier in the season, as she collected a double and a two-run home run against No. 11 Georgia on March 3. Redshirt sophomore Robyn Wike notched her first two hits of the season to raise her average 111 points on the year.
Junior centerfielder Ashley Parker was successful on her only stolen base attempt at the tournament. The Lindale, Texas, native is a perfect 15-for-15 on the base paths this season to place her among the Big 12 leaders.
As they have all season long, several Red Raider freshmen made impacts for Tech at the tournament. First baseman Elizabeth Eimen went 1-for-2 during her only start of the tournament to raise her batting average to a team-leading .276. Fellow rookie Alex Watkins appeared at first base and in the clean-up spot in the Red Raider lineup for the first time in her young career against No. 3 Tennessee on March 4.
Texas Tech softball will head to its last non-conference tournament next weekend when the Red Raiders travel to Albuquerque, N.M., before opening Big 12 play in Waco, Texas, against Baylor on March 25-26.
Fans can follow this weekend's action by accessing gametracker on the softball schedule/results page of www.texastech.com.
