Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Makes Final Trip to Nebraska This Weekend
April 29, 2011 | Softball
April 29, 2011
Game Notes | Gameday Central | 
Series Preview
LINCOLN, Neb. - Texas Tech will make its final trip to Nebraska this weekend as the Red Raiders and the 14th-ranked Huskers begin a two-game series at 1 p.m. Saturday at Bowlin Stadium.
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
Texas Tech fans unable to make the trip to Lincoln. can keep up with 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 game along with postgame video from coach Shanon Hays.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Texas Tech (39-11; 4-10) - RV/RV
Nebraska (34-9; 4-6) - No. 19/14
(ESPN.com/USA Softball - NFCA/USA Today)
THE SERIES
Nebraska has historically dominated the series, maintaining a 30-6 all-time lead in the series, including a 12-2 mark in Lincoln. The Huskers won both games of the series a year ago, taking a 3-1 victory in the first game of the series before closing the weekend with a 2-0 win. Tech split the series in 2009 during its last trip to Lincoln.
ON DECK
Following a week off for finals, the Red Raiders will take to the road one final time with the regular season finale at Texas A&M. The series begins at 6 p.m. May 13 in College Station.
SOFTBALL MAKES FINAL TRIP TO LINCOLN
The Red Raiders are the final Texas Tech program to travel to Lincoln as Nebraska will enter the Big 10 Conference beginning next season.
TECH STILL IN THE TOP 30 OF THE RPI
The Red Raiders remained in the top 30 of the ratings percentage index (RPI) this week, moving up one spot to No. 28. Tech is one of eight Big 12 schools in the top 30 of the RPI.
A LOOK AT NEBRASKA
The 14th-ranked Huskers come into this weekend's series with wins in three of their last four games, including a split series last weekend against Missouri. Nebraska is third in the Big 12 with a .315 average on the year, but the Huskers are only hitting a .195 mark in conference play. Ashley Hagemann, meanwhile, leads the NU pitching staff with a 24-8 record and a 1.92 ERA. The Huskers are 6-3 this season in games played at Bowlin Stadium.
RED RAIDERS BOAST NATION'S TOP AVERAGE
Texas Tech continues to boast the nation's top batting average entering this weekend as the Red Raiders are hitting .361 through 50 games. Eight of Tech's nine projected starters are hitting above .300 with the lone exception being Ashley Hamada who is hitting .299 on the year. Tennessee has the next highest average at .357.
BLEDSOE SUCCESSFUL IN LEADOFF SPOT
Since moving to the leadoff spot prior to the second game against Baylor, Emily Bledsoe has hit .448 with hits in eight of nine games. The junior has reached base to start the game in eight of those games as well with six of them coming from hits and the other two resulting from hit by pitches.
TECH ENDS SEASON WITH ATTENDANCE HIGHS
Over 1,600 fans crowded Rocky Johnson Field last weekend as the Red Raiders closed its home schedule against 5th-ranked Texas. Tech opened the weekend with 837 fans on Friday night before 861 fans returned the following day for the series finale. It marked the fourth and second largest crowds in school history.
JAMES TIES SINGLE-SEASON HOME RUN MARK
Sandy James' fourth inning solo home run in the series opener against Texas gave the sophomore 15 on the season, tying the Tech single-season record currently held by teammate Mikey Kenney (2010) and Kim Martinez (1997).
