Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders Open Road Trip at Stony Brook
March 13, 2012 | Softball
March 13, 2012
NEWARK, N.J. - Coming off a two-game sweep of No. 23 New Mexico Monday, Texas Tech returns to the diamond on Wednesday when the Red Raiders travel to the northeast for a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Stony Brook at University Field in Stony Brook, N.Y.
| SERIES INFORMATION | |
| Date | Wednesday, March 14, 2012 |
| Location (Facility) | Stony Brook, N.Y. (University Field) |
| Series Schedule | Game 1 - 1 p.m. (CT) | Gametracker Game 2 - 30 min. following | Gametracker |
| Radio/Live Video | None |
| Live Blog | Gameday Central |
INSIDE THE STONY BROOK SERIES
The Red Raiders will be facing Stony Brook for the first time in school history. The game is set to be the Sea Wolves' home opener as Stony Brook is 10-4 on the year after traveling to the Charlotte Classic, George Washington Colonial Classic, and the LaQuinta Inn and Suites Spring Break Tournament in Fort Myers, Fla. last weekend. This will mark Tech's first trip to the New York/New Jersey in school history.
RED RAIDERS AGAINST THE AMERICAN EAST CONFERENCE
Tech is a perfect 12-0 all-time against current members of the American East Conference. The Red Raiders have already defeated one American East school this year in Binghamton during the Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic. Prior to facing the Bearcats over three games, Tech had not faced an American East school since defeating Boston University, 4-0, on March 19, 2011 during the USF The Game Tournament in Clearwater, Fla.
ON DECK
The Red Raiders will remain in the New York through the weekend as Tech will take part in the Seton Hall Classic which begins Friday in South Orange, N.J. Tech will face Monmouth and the host Pirates on Friday before taking on Manhattan Saturday morning. From there, the four teams will be seeded with two more games to be played over Saturday and Sunday.
LOOKING BACK
Tech is coming off a series sweep of 23rd-ranked New Mexico Monday at Rocky Johnson Field. The two-game sweep of the Lobos marked Tech's first over a ranked opponent since dropping No. 7 Oklahoma State in a April 22, 2010 doubleheader in Lubbock. The Red Raiders had not previously defeated any ranked squad in a single game since topping No. 14 Oklahoma, 5-0, April 1 last year also in Lubbock.
RED RAIDERS HEAD TO NEW YORK
Tech will be playing in the New York area for what is believed to be the first time in school history. The Red Raiders will play a total of seven games during the six-day trip to the northeast, including this weekend's Seton Hall Classic. In addition to its busy schedule on the diamond, Tech will also take in a Broadway play while also sight-seeing in the New York area as well.
KENNEY TIES HOME RUN RECORD
Mikey Kenney's grand slam in the fourth inning of Monday's second game against New Mexico not only gave the Red Raiders a 7-3 lead but it also moved the junior into a tie for first in the career realms of the school record book. Kenney, who leads the Red Raiders with eight dingers this year, now has 27 home runs over her two-plus seasons, tying her with Kim Martinez (1997, 1999) for the school record. She enters this week tied for second in the Big 12 with Texas A&M's Mel Dumezich.
TECH BATS COME TO LIFE AGAINST NEW MEXICO
Heading into the New Mexico doubleheader, Tech head coach Shanon Hays had hoped his offense would have produced a few more runs so far this season. He got his wish early on against the 23rd Lobos as Tech set a new season high in hits during the first game en route to scoring a total of 17 runs over the two games. The Red Raiders capitalized on two separate seven-run innings which allowed Tech to break the first game open in the third before using another seven-run frame in the fourth to bounce back from an early 3-0 deficit in the finale.
HAYS ONE WIN SHY OF 100 AT TEXAS TECH
Shanon Hays enters should reach the 100-win mark during the Red Raiders' trip to the northeast as the third-year head coach is now 99-41 at Tech following the doubleheader sweep of New Mexico Monday. Hays, who is 213-57 in his fifth season as a collegiate coach, is already the second-winningest coach in school history, trailing only Renee Luers-Gillespie's 136 wins from 1996-2000.
RICHARDSON HEATS UP AGAINST LOBOS
Raven Richardson reached base in all seven plate appearances Monday against New Mexico, going a perfect 4-for-4 in the series opener before drawing three-straight walks in the finale. Richardson's four hits in the first game marked a career high, surpassing her previous high of three set twice before. Her three walks in the second game tied Sandy James for the individual season high among Tech players this season.
WILLIAMS EMERGES IN LEFT FIELD
For the first three weekends of the season, Tech used a platoon of players in left field with Melisa Ryba, Taylor Powell, Kermitria Ward, and Katelyn Williams all seeing time. Over the past nine games, though, Williams has found her way into the lineup, marking the most-consecutive starts for a Tech player in left field this season. During that span, Williams has hit .261 at the plate (6-for-23) with her first career home run and a pair of doubles. She has also drove in eight RBI and scored four runs.
CUSTER AMONG BIG 12 LEADERS IN WINS
Cara Custer enters this weekend among the Big 12 leaders with 11 wins so far as she is 11-5 on the year with a 2.28 earned-run average. Prior to suffering two losses at Texas this week, the freshman had picked up a victory in nine of her last 10 appearances with the lone exception being a no-decision against Texas State on Feb. 26. Custer went 3-0 during the Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic against Binghamton and UT-Arlington while not giving up an earned run over 18.0 innings. She gave up 12 hits during that span while striking out 18 as well. Custer is also among the Big 12 leaders in innings pitched, strikeouts, appearances, games started, and complete games.
DON'T FORGET TALLEY
Even with Cara Custer's emergence early in the season, Tech would not be 19-7 on the year without the consistency of sophomore Brittany Talley. The left-hander, who provides a good 1-2 punch in the rotation with Custer, is 6-2 on the year with a team-leading 2.12 earned-run average. In seven starts this season, Talley has given up more than one earned run only twice, which came when San Diego State put across three runs in the season opener and then Monday in the second game against New Mexico. Since the San Diego State game, Talley has gone the distance in four of her next six starts while also making five appearances out of the bullpen. She gave up three runs, two of which were earned, in 14.0 innings during the Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic against UT-Arlington and Binghamton. She appeared once during the Texas series, giving up three runs, two of which were earned, over the final three innings in the series opener.
PENCIL BLEDSOE IN THE LINEUP
During Cal Ripken, Jr.'s historic stretch with the Baltimore Orioles, he earned the iconic nickname "Iron Man" after breaking the major league record for 2,632 consecutive games played. While not nearing Ripken's mark, Emily Bledsoe has impressed many not just for her glove or bat but for her toughness as well as the Fulshear, Texas native has started in all 197 games since her freshman season in 2009. Already a regular in the Tech record book, the senior broke into the Tech record book with both starts against New Mexico, passing current volunteer assistant coach Leah Legler for 10th all-time in games played.
PEREZ CONTINUES TO SHINE IN CLEANUP ROLE
Through 26 games this season, Adriana Perez has already showed why she was the two-time California JUCO Catcher of the Year. The Lancaster, Calif. native is currently among the Big 12 leaders as she leads the team with a team-high .364 average. Perez has homored five times so far while also driving in 18 runs. With her emergence, Tech head coach Shanon Hays has been able to move Sandy James, last year's cleanup hitter, to the No. 3 hole since Perez is protecting her in the lineup.
