Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders Open Big 12 Play in Top 25 Matchup
March 24, 2011 | Softball
March 24, 2011
Game Notes | Promotions | Gameday Central | 
Preview
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech opens Big 12 play with the first of six-straight conference games at Rocky Johnson Field as the 19th-ranked Red Raiders host No. 13 Missouri in a two-game series beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday.
LIVE STREAMING
Texas Tech will stream every home game free of charge this season at RaiderVision All-Access on the school's official website, www.texastech.com. Matt Driskill and Harley Chambliss will call the action from Rocky Johnson Field during every Big 12 Conference game as the online broadcast can be heard through the video stream.
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
Texas Tech fans unable to make the trip to Florida can keep up with all the action through the Gameday Central page at texastech.com. The page will contain live scoring, an in-game blog, and stats and box scores from every Tech game along with postgame video from head coach Shanon Hays.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Texas Tech (35-1; 0-0) - No. 19/20
Missouri (23-4; 2-0) - No. 13/16
(ESPN.com/USA Softball - NFCA/USA Today)
ON DECK
The Red Raiders continue their six-game homestand to begin Big 12 play next weekend against the 7th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners. The two-game series runs April 1-2 at Rocky Johnson Field.
THE SERIES
Missouri leads the all-time series against Texas Tech, 24-14, including wins in the last four meetings. The Red Raiders are 4-12 all-time against the Tigers in Lubbock with Tech's last victory at home coming on April 23, 2000 in a 6-5 win.
RED RAIDERS IN BIG 12 OPENERS
The Red Raiders are only 6-24 all-time in Big 12 opening series. Tech opened conference last year with a series split against Iowa State in Lubbock.
TOP OFFENSE MEETS TOP PITCHING STAFF
Texas Tech, which boasts a .392 batting average, will be facing the Big 12's top pitching staff in Missouri. The Tigers have recorded a 1.07 ERA this season behind aces Chelsea Thomas (10-2; 0.37 ERA) and Kristin Nottelmann (11-0; 1.11 ERA). Tech currently has four players (Cydney Allen, Logan Hall, Raven Richardson, and Emily Bledsoe) that rank among the top-15 batting averages in the league, while as a team, the Red Raiders lead most offensive categories.
A LOOK AT MISSOURI...
Missouri enters this weekend riding a school-record 21 game winning streak after opening Big 12 play Wednesday with a sweep of rival Kansas. Tech and the Tigers have played one common opponent this season, California, who defeated Mizzou, 1-0, on Feb. 20 at the San Diego Classic. The Red Raiders topped Cal, 5-4, on Feb. 12 in the ASU Kajikawa Classic. The Tigers were picked to finish second in the Big 12 prior to the season behind Oklahoma.
TECH AGAINST TOP 25 TEAMS UNDER HAYS
The Red Raiders have won more than a handful of games against top 25 opponents under second-year head coach Shanon Hays. Tech is 8-11 against ranked teams under Hays, including 2-0 so far this season. Saturday's game will mark the first time Tech has faced a ranked opponent under Hays when the Red Raiders are also among the top 25.
RED RAIDERS BOAST MOST WINS IN THE NATION
Texas Tech enters this weekend with the most wins (35) among any Division-1 team in the country as the Red Raiders are one of only four teams with at least 30 wins this season, joining Alabama (30-2), Arizona State (30-2), and Florida (30-1).
REWRITING THE RECORD BOOK
Through only 36 games, the 2011 Texas Tech squad has already laid its mark in the school's record book, setting the single-season records for runs, RBIs, home runs, and games ended via run rule. The Red Raiders have also had two no-hitters this season from freshmen Kermitria Ward and Brittany Talley, while several individuals such as Logan Hall, Cydney Allen, and Sandy James have either broken or matched single-game records already in place.
TOUGH STRETCH TO START CONFERENCE PLAY
Prior to the season, both Oklahoma and Missouri were picked to finish first and second in the Big 12, respectively. Texas Tech, who was picked to finish seventh, will host both schools to open Big 12 play as the Red Raiders will get an early test to see where it stands in the Big 12 ranks. Not to make things easier, the Red Raiders will then face No. 15 Baylor in a midweek doubleheader on April 6 as Tech will open league play with three-straight series against ranked opponents.
