Texas Tech University Athletics
Postgame Notes
April 18, 2012 | Softball
April 18, 2012
THE TEXAS A&M SERIES• The win snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Aggies in what will likely be the final contest between the two schools for the foreseeable future.
• Even with the win, Tech still trails 27-12 in the series and 14-5 in games played in Lubbock.
• The victory was the first for Tech head coach Shanon Hays against the Aggies. Hays is now 1-6 against A&M in three seasons.
• The Red Raiders' eight runs in the game match the most against the Aggies in the series. Tech also scored eight as part of an 8-1 victory in the second game of a May 3, 2000 doubleheader in College Station.
• The 14 total runs in the game matched the second-highest total for a single game in the series. The two teams combined for 16 runs in a 10-6 A&M victory on May 1, 2010 and then had 14 runs in an 8-6 win for the Aggies on March 29, 2001. Both games were played in Lubbock.
TEXAS TECH TEAM NOTES
• The Red Raiders improved to 7-9 this year when facing a ranked opponent and 5-7 when doing so in Big 12 play.
• Tech ends the series ranked fifth in the Big 12 Conference standings entering Friday night's series opener with No. 25 Baylor.
• Tech's five-run deficit through after the top of the third marked the largest the Red Raiders have trailed and later won this season. It was also the largest deficit Tech has trailed by and won since going down 5-0 after the top of the second against St. John's and won, 19-8, on Feb. 26 last year.
• Tech's home runs from Holley Gentsch and Sandy James give the Red Raiders 57 now on the year, just one shy of last year's school record. Tech still has 9 games to go to snap the mark.
• The Red Raiders are now 27-4 on the year when hitting a home run in game. James' sixth-inning grand slam was the 16th long ball to give Tech a lead this year as well.
• The win marked only the second time Tech has won when giving up six or more runs this year. Tech's other win came in a 19-7 victory over Iowa State on March 30. The Red Raiders are now 2-4 on the year when giving up six or more runs.
• Tech improved to 14-2 on the year when scoring six or more runs in the game. Tech put up six runs in the series opener Tuesday as part of a 9-6 loss.
• After committing seven errors between the two games Tuesday, the Red Raiders had only one in today's series finale. It marked the 10th-straight game Tech has had at least one error.
• Ashley Hamada's diving catch to end the game improved Tech to 26-0 when leading after six innings this year.
Sandy James
• James connected on her third career grand slam with her sixth-inning shot to center field. It was her ninth home run of the season and her 25th of her career, leaving her two shy of Kim Martinez (1997, 1999) for second all-time in school history.
• The grand slam marked the third of her career as she crushed two as a sophomore in 2011. It was the second grand slam for any Tech player this year as Mikey Kenney connected on one in the second game of a March 12 doubleheader against No. 23 New Mexico.
• It marked James' 10th multiple-RBI game of the year and the 26th for her career. She finished 1-for-3 at the plate in the game.
Cara Custer
• Custer picked up her 21st victory of the season as she matched the great Amanda Renfro for third in the school's single-season record book. Renfro previously owned the top three spots to herself as she won 21 games in 1999, 23 as a freshman in 1998, and then 34 her senior year in 2001.
• Custer ends the series second in the Big 12 for wins, trailing only A&M's Mel Dumezich who finished with 22 victories so far.
Ashley Hamada
• On top of having two highlight worthy catches in the outfield, Hamada went 1-for-2 at the plate and scored two runs. She had the leadoff single to start Tech's rally in the sixth.
• Hamada was playing in the 205th game of her career, moving her past Heather Parker (2004-07) for sole possession of eighth in school history.
Raven Richardson
• Richardson went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a RBI, marking her ninth multiple-hit game of the season.
Taylor Powell
• Powell came off the bench to go 2-for-2 at the plate with a fifth-inning double and then a single in the sixth that immediately followed James' grand slam.
• It was Powell's second multiple-hit game of the year with the other coming in a 2-for-3 performance against Portland State on Feb. 18.
Emily Bledsoe
• Bledsoe drew three walks in the game as she finished 0-for-1 at the plate. She has 77 walks over her career, moving her one shy of Paula Workman (1997-2000) for the most all-time in school history.
