Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Opens 2008 Season in Las Vegas
February 06, 2008 | Softball
Feb. 6, 2008
LUBBOCK, Texas - Looking to build off its late-season Big 12 Tournament run last year, Texas Tech will kick off the 2008 season at the Sportco Spring Kick Off Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. Feb. 8-10. Tech will open the tournament against No. 11/14 Washington before taking on host UNLV. Saturday, the Red Raiders will face Loyola-Chicago in the morning contest before battling battling No. 3/2 Arizona State. They will conclude the tournament Sunday with a showdown against the Canadian National Team.
National Recognition
For the first time in the Wilson era, Tech was among those receiving votes in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Preseason Poll. Five of the six of Big 12 teams picked above the Red Raiders in the preseason conference poll are preseason ranked. The other is among those receiving votes.
Can You Say Strength of Schedule?
Twelve of Texas Tech's 2008 opponents are ranked in the preseason polls. That includes five of the top 10 teams. Included in that is each of the top three squads in both polls. Another four opponents are among those receiving votes in the polls.
Old Times
Teresa Wilson will face a program she built from the ground up, Washington, for the third time Friday afternoon. Tech faced the Huskies twice last season, both on neutral sites, and split the two games, with Tech winning the last meeting 3-2... Red Raider assistant Amy (Hanson) Suiter starred for Wilson at Washington... Senior catcher Robyn Wike is a transfer that played her freshman year at Washington.
Season Openers
The Red Raiders are 6-10 all time in season openers, including four years from 1982-1985 before the program started back up in 1996. Since then, Tech is 4-8 in its first game of the year.
Scouting Washington
Washington enters the 2008 season ranked No. 11/14 after finishing 2007 third at the Women's College World Series and compiling a 42-19 record. Heather Tarr is in her fourth season at the reigns of the Huskies and returns four starters from last season, highlighted by All-American Ashley Charters. Charters hit .391 with seven homers and 33 RBI while stealing 36 bases and scoring 59 runs last season. Caitlin Noble brings her 2.26 ERA from last year to lead Washington in the circle.
Scouting UNLV
UNLV comes into this season among those teams receiving votes in the preseason polls. The Rebels finished second in the Mountain West Conference last year with a 37-27 overall record. Coached by Lonni Alameda in her fifth season, UNLV returns seven starters this years. Leading the way is Jaci Hull, who hit .370 to go along with 12 homers and 34 RBI last season.
Scouting Arizona State
No. 3/2 Arizona State enters 2008 with eight starters returning from a team that went 54-17 a year ago. Two-time All-American and 2007 NCAA batting champion Kaitlin Cochran leads the way for ASU on offense. Cochran hit .492 with 18 home runs and 59 RBI while slugging .888 a year ago. The Sun Devils are led by Katie Burkhart in the circle. Burkhart won 35 games and had 517 strikeouts to go along with a 1.11 ERA last year.
