Texas Tech University Athletics
Busy Week Continues with Texas
March 26, 2008 | Softball
March 26, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
LUBBOCK, Texas -
On Deck
Coming off a 9-1 win over UTEP to split a double header, Texas Tech softball (8-25) will step back into conference play as it wraps a five-game home stand with the Texas Longhorns (16-11-2) Thursday. The Red Raiders will be looking to avenge a loss to UT two weeks ago at the Hawai'i Spring Fling Classic. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT at Rocky Johnson Field.
There will be little rest for Tech from there as it will head to Lawrence, Kan. for a weekend series with the Kansas Jayhawks Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 12 p.m.
On Air
Fans can catch the action with the Longhorns live via 1420 KJDL in Lubbock. Matt Driskill will call the action and Harley Chambliss will provide play-by-play analysis.
The Series
The Longhorns and Red Raiders are meeting for the 23rd time in the series Thursday night. Texas leads the series 18-4, including an 8-2 victory over Tech two weeks ago at the Hawaii Spring Fling Tournament. Tech has never beaten the `Horns in Lubbock.
Scouting the Longhorns
Texas brings a 16-11-2 record into the contest, having swept Nebraska 5-1 and 4-0 last week to open Big 12 play. UT has played several of the same teams as Tech this season, including Stanford, Cal State Fullerton, UNLV, Wichita State and Utah, and the Longhorns own wins over each of them. Tallie Thrasher, the reigning Big 12 Player of the Week, leads the team with a .389 avg. to go along with five home runs and 17 RBI. Loryn Johnson is close behind at a .348 clip while pacing Texas with seven home runs and 20 RBI. Megan Denny leads the `Horns in the circle with a 1.57 ERA and 163 strikeouts in just over 102 innings pitched. Coach Connie Clark is in her 13th season at the helm of UT softball.
UTEP Wrap Up
After struggling to get their bats going early against the Miners' ace in 2-1 loss, the Red Raiders roared back with nine runs on 10 hits to run rule UTEP 9-1 in the second game. Jennifer Corkin helped lead the hit parade by going 2-2 with a home run and two RBI. Hot-hitting junior Megan Shupp also chipped in a pair of hits in three trips to the plate. Freshman Tye Coats picked up the win in the circle and also helped herself with an RBI single.
Last Week in Review
Going on two to three hours of sleep after flying a red eye into Dallas, Texas Tech dropped a tough 4-3 contest to North Texas in Denton. The Mean Green scored two unearned runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to steal the win... Friday, No. 7 Texas A&M stole a 7-3 extra-inning affair from Tech, after A&M had to scratch its way back to force extra innings. Junior Megan Shupp blasted her second home run of the season in the contest... Saturday saw A&M take another closely-contested game 3-1.
Hawai'i Happenings
Senior outfielder Devin Zaragoza and sophomore Leah Legler were both named to the Hawai'i Spring Fling all-tournament two weeks ago... Tech had at least eight hits in three of the six games in the tournament, including nine-hit outings against Maine and Texas... Three Red Raiders hit over .300 for the tournament, including Legler (.389), Robyn Wike (.364) and Liz Eimen (.316)... Two players captured career firsts as junior Megan Shupp hit her first career home run against Hawaii and freshman Tye Coats recorded her first career save in Tech's first game against Maine.
On the Road
Thursday's game will be just the fifth home game this season for Tech. The Red Raiders played their first 29 games away from Lubbock. Playing that many road games to start a season is nothing unusual for the Red Raiders under Teresa Wilson. In 2006, Tech played its first 34 games, including four conference games, on the road. Last year, the Red Raiders played its first 30 contests away from Lubbock before playing its first home game at Rocky Johnson Field.
In Perspective
Eighteen of the Red Raiders' losses this season have come against teams that are either ranked in the Top 25 or have been receiving votes. Twelve losses have come against Top 25 teams, while nine losses have been by two runs or less.
Can You Say Strength ofSchedule?
Nine of Tech's 2008 opponents are currently ranked in the Top 25, while three others are receiving votes... Twelve teams on the Red Raiders' schedule were ranked in the preseason polls.
Home Makeover Tech Edition
The Red Raiders' Rocky Johnson Field is undergoing quite a face lift. This past summer, the previous field was torn up and new grass and dirt were laid. New dugouts are also under construction at the present time, hence the chairs, tables and temporary fencing.
Seeing Double
Tech have played six different schools twice in its non-conference schedule. This includes Washington, Stanford, New Mexico, Loyola Chicago, Maine and North Carolina... The Red Raiders are scheduled to play six double headers this year, which does not include back-to-back games in tournaments.
Eimen On the Ball
Few Tech players are hitting the ball better than Liz Eimen of late. The Mannford, Okla., native is hitting .344 over the last 12 games, including a career-best five-game hitting streak. She has raised her average a staggering 124 points over this time. Coming into the last two weeks, she was hitting just .120.
Shupp is Up!
If the Big 12 Conference had a Most Improved Player Award, Junior Megan Shupp would have to be a front runner. Her numbers this year have exceeded many of her career totals coming into the season. She has two home runs this year after not hitting a one the previous two years. Her eight RBI at this point surpasses her career total of five coming into the season, and her five extra base hits also exceed her career tally. Perhaps most impressively, her .303 batting average this season is 146 points higher than her career average.
