Texas Tech University Athletics
Softball Heads to Southern California
February 27, 2008 | Softball
Feb. 27, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
LUBBOCK, Texas - More top-notch opponents await Texas Tech softball this weekend as the Red Raiders travel to Fullerton, Calif. for the Fullerton Worth Invitational. Tech will open the weekend against Oregon State Friday afternoon at 3:30 CT before taking on host Cal State Fullerton at 8 p.m.
Saturday, the Red Raiders will look to avenge a previous loss when they battle Loyola-Chicago at 11 a.m. Perhaps their toughest test of the tournament will come that afternoon when they battle No. 10/8 Stanford at 3:30 p.m. Tech will wrap up the weekend Sunday when it takes on UC Davis at 1 p.m.
In Perspective
Eight of the Red Raiders' losses this season have come against teams that are either ranked in the Top 25 or receiving votes... Five losses have come by two runs or less.
Can You Say Strength of Schedule?
Twelve of Tech's 2008 opponents were ranked in the preseason polls. That includes five of the top 10 teams. Included in that was each of the top three squads in both polls... Eleven of the Red Raiders' current opponents are ranked and five more are receiving votes.
So. Cal Not all Sunshine
Tech will make it's fourth-ever trip to Fullerton, Calif. for this weekend's Fullerton Worth Tournament. Always chalked full of some of the top teams in the country, the event has not been particularly nice to the Red Raiders. They are just 1-11 all time in Fullerton.
Tough Conference
The Big 12 is right up there with the toughest softball conferences in the country. Four schools are ranked in the Top 25 in both the NFCA and ESPN.com polls, with two others receiving votes. Only the SEC (6) and Pac-10 (4/5) conferences have more teams ranked... Five schools from the Big 12 were ranked in the preseason polls. Two others, including Texas Tech, were among those receiving votes. Only the Pac-10 had more teams ranked with seven.
Feasting in Albuquerque
Senior Devin Zaragoza and sophomore Leah Legler ate up opposing pitching last weekend in Albuquerque, N.M. Zaragoza, an Alamogordo, N.M., native, hit .571 for the weekend, raising her season average a staggering 174 points. She had four hits against Missouri.... Legler recorded multiple hits in each game and hit .563 over the three days at Lobo Field.
Career Bests
Legler (3) and Zaragoza (4) both tied career bests for hits in a game last weekend. Zaragoza went 4-4 against Missouri and Legler picked up three hits against New Mexico. Her current hitting streak of six games is also a career long.
Looking to Avenge
Tech is looking to avenge a 3-2 loss to Loyola-Chicago earlier this season. The Ramblers scored three runs in the last two innings to come back and beat the Red Raiders.
Tech vs. Oregon State
The two schools will meet for just the fourth time Friday. The Beavers have won each of the previous three meetings with the most recent being a 2-1 decision in Tempe, Ariz. on Feb. 7, 2003.
Tech vs. Cal State Fullerton
The Titans have won five of the six meetings in the all-time series, including a 5-0 win last year. Tech has only played Fullerton once on their home field before now. The Titans took that 2006 contest 2-1. The Red Raiders' only win in the series came on Feb. 21, 1999.
Tech vs. Loyola-Chicago
Saturday will be the second time this season the two schools have met. The Ramblers won the previous meeting 3-2 in Las Vegas, Nev. Each team has one win apiece in the all-time series.
Tech vs. Stanford
The Cardinal has won all eight games in the series, including a 2-1 decision last year in Fullerton.
Scouting the Beavers
Oregon State, who played in the 2006 Women's College World Series, brings an 8-8 record into the game and is hitting .268 as a team. The Beavers are led by 2007 All-American Cambria Miranda, .367 with five homeruns and 12 RBI. Kirk Walker is in his 14th season as coach at OSU.
Scouting the Titans
Cal State Fullerton carries a 6-6-1 record into the weekend and is among those receiving Top 25 votes. Kiki Munoz leads the Titans with a .378 average, while Torrie Anderson tops Fullerton with two homers and 10 RBI. Coach Michelle Gromacki is in her ninth season at the helm of the Titans.
Scouting Loyola
The Ramblers have played just five games on the season and are 2-3 overall. Kat Krause leads Loyola with two homeruns and four RBI while hitting .417. Yvette Healy is in her fourth season as coach of the Ramblers.
Scouting the Cardinal
Stanford enters the weekend with a 15-1 record and a No. 10/8 ranking. The Cardinal are paced by sophomore Rosey Neill's five homers and eight RBI. Missy Penna is 11-1 with a 1.01 ERA in the circle.
Scouting the Mustangs
UC Davis brings an 8-6 record into this weekend. Julie Stauder leads the Mustangs with a .351 average. Karen Yoder is in her fourth season as the coach of UC Davis.
