Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders Open Homestand Against Midwestern State
March 26, 2012 | Softball
March 26, 2012
Game Notes | Gameday Central | Promotions
LUBBOCK, Texas - After an eight-day break, Texas Tech returns to the diamond Tuesday evening when the Red Raiders close non-conference play against Midwestern State. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Rocky Johnson Field.
| GAME INFORMATION | |
| Date | Tuesday, March 27, 2012 |
| Location (Facility) | Lubbock, Texas (Rocky Johnson Field) |
| First Pitch | 6 p.m. | Gametracker | Watch Live |
| Radio/Live Video | KTXT 88.1 FM |
| Live Blog | Gameday Central |
RED RAIDERS WINNERS OF NINE-STRAIGHT
The Red Raiders enter Tuesday night's contest winners of nine-straight overall and 15-straight against non-conference opponents. Tech will be looking to match its season-long winning streak against the Mustangs as the Red Raiders rolled off 10-straight victories from Feb. 17-26 this year, marking the program's longest run since opening the 2011 season with a 24-0 record. Tech's last loss to a non-conference foe came Feb. 26 against Texas State in the championship game of the Texas Shootout.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Despite being roughly 200 miles from each other, this will be the first meeting all-time between Tech and Midwestern State, which is located in Wichita Falls. The Mustangs, who play in the Lone Star Conference, are Tech's first Division II opponent since facing Eastern New Mexico in a doubleheader March 30, 2005 In Lubbock. The Red Raiders won both of those games by a combined score of 29-2.
ON DECK
The Red Raiders return to Big 12 play this weekend with their conference home opener against Iowa State. The three-game series begins at 6 p.m. Friday evening at Rocky Johnson Field. The two teams will conclude the series with games at noon on Saturday and Sunday.
LOOKING BACK
Despite a week off, the Red Raiders enter this week's homestand with momentum on their side as Tech went a perfect 9-0 over Spring Break with doubleheader sweeps of No. 23 New Mexico and Stony Brook before taking the Seton Hall Classic title following a 5-0 showing.
RED RAIDERS IN NON-CONFERENCE FINALES
Texas Tech has traditionally struggled somewhat in its final non-conference game of the year, posting an 8-8 record since softball was resurrected as an intercollegiate sport in 1996. The Red Raiders have closed non-conference with a win in six of the last nine years, including a 6-5 extra-inning victory over Liberty on March 20 last year. Tech is 1-1 when finishing up non-conference under head coach Shanon Hays.
CUSTER THROWS FIRST CAREER NO-HITTER
Custer tossed her first career no-hitter in Tech's second game of the Seton Hall Classic, a 11-0 run-rule of the host Pirates. It marked the eighth no-hitter in school history and the first since Kermitria Ward held Dayton hitless on March 6 last year. She became just the third Tech freshman to record a no-hitter, joining Ward and fellow teammate Brittany Talley. Custer struck out a season-high nine Pirates in the outing before coming back two days later to keep Seton Hall hitless all the way till the third inning when Colltey Sheldon slapped an infield single. The Spanaway, Wash. native was named the tournament's top pitcher following the game.
SPRING BREAK GOOD FOR TECH'S AVERAGES
To say the Tech offense enjoyed a successful Spring Break at the plate might be an understatement. During Tech's nine games during the week, Tech hit .374 as a team, totaling 14 home runs and 71 runs during that span, outscoring opponents 71-19 overall. The Red Raiders had eight players with 10 or more at-bats post at least a .300 average at the plate, led by Raven Richardson's .600 mark.
KENNEY PERFECT ON THE BASES
While Mikey Kenney has recently been known for her hitting balls out of the park, the junior has also made her mark on the base paths this season, going a perfect 10-for-10 in stolen bases which currently ranks seventh in the Big 12. Kenney has never been thrown out on a stolen base attempt as she is 29-for-29 over her career. The Arvada, Colo. native tied the Tech single-game record with four stolen bases in the second game against Manhattan March 17. Tech stole seven bases as a team in that game, one shy of the school record.
PEREZ CONTINUES TO CREATE HAVOC IN CLEANUP SPOT
Adriana Perez continues to cause problems for opposing pitchers as she is now hitting .386 on the year with nine home runs and a team-high 30 RBI. The junior enters this week as the Big 12 leader in hits (39) while also ranking among the top performers in home runs (9), RBI (30), total bases (71), and slugging percentage (.703). Perez is in the midst of a 10-game hitting streak, the longest for any Tech player this season.
RYBA RETURNS TO THE LINEUP
After 14 games away from the field, Melisa Ryba returned the field at the Seton Hall Classic, crushing a three-run homer in the first plate appearance. She came off the bench in all five games that weekend, replacing Katelyn Williams in the lineup to go 5-for-11 at the plate. She had not previously seen action since facing UTEP on Feb. 25 in Waco.
RED RAIDERS RANKED NO. 29 IN FIRST RPI RANKINGS
Texas Tech was ranked 29th in the first RPI (ratings percentage index) rankings that were released Monday afternoon, one spot higher than where Tech debuted a year ago. The Red Raiders, who ended last season ranked 30th in the RPI rankings, placed sixth among Big 12 schools in the poll, trailing Texas (No. 8), Texas A&M (No. 12), Oklahoma (No. 13), Missouri (No. 15) and Kansas (No. 25). Tech has played four non-conference opponents (Tennessee, Stanford, DePaul, Texas State) ranked in the top 40 so far this season, going 4-3 in those games.
