Softball Set to Begin Play in Puerto Vallarta

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech softball goes international this week with five games at the Puerto Vallarta Challenge in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Feb. 16-19.

The Red Raiders (3-2) kick things off Thursday against Cal-State Fullerton (1-3) with a 4 p.m. CT first pitch, before taking on Florida Gulf Coast (4-0) that evening with a scheduled start time of 7 p.m.

Tech will also see matchups with Mississippi State (3-2) Friday at 7 p.m., another with Cal-State Fullerton Saturday at 9 a.m. and Fresno State (4-1) to wrap up the event Sunday at 9 a.m.

All games will take place at Campo de Softball Nancy Alvarez. Live stats are available for each contest here, while live stats of each Red Raider game can be found on the schedule.

Texas Tech began the season with a 3-2 showing at the CenturyLink Classic last weekend in San Marcos, Texas, earning wins over Iowa, Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Abilene Christian. A pair of freshmen shined as outfielder Raina O'Neal smacked three home runs, while right-hander Kassidy Scott pitched 14.2 innings and finished with an ERA of 0.95.

2017 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge Schedule
Thursday, Feb. 16
Game 1 - Mississippi State vs. Fresno State – 10 a.m. CT
Game 2 – Florida Gulf Coast vs. Fresno State – 1 p.m. CT
Game 3 – Cal State Fullerton vs. Texas Tech – 4 p.m. CT
Game 4 – Florida Gulf Coast vs. Texas Tech – 7 p.m. CT

Friday, Feb. 17
Game 5 – Mississippi State vs. Cal State Fullerton – 10 a.m. CT
Game 6 – Cal State Fullerton vs. Florida Gulf Coast – 1 p.m. CT
Game 7 – Florida Gulf Coast vs. Fresno State – 4 p.m. CT
Game 8 – Mississippi State vs. Texas Tech – 7 p.m. CT

Saturday, Feb. 18
Game 9 – Cal State Fullerton vs. Texas Tech – 9 a.m. CT
Game 10 – Cal State Fullerton vs. Fresno State – 11:45 a.m. CT
Game 11 – Mississippi State vs. Florida Gulf Coast – 2:30 p.m. CT

Sunday, Feb. 19
Game 12 – Texas Tech vs. Fresno State – 9 a.m. CT

Fuego Rápido

• Texas Tech will take part in session two of the 2017 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, put on by Triple Crown Sports, south of the border in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The field at the event includes Mississippi State, Fresno State, Cal-State Fullerton and Florida Gulf Coast. The Red Raiders begin play Thursday at 4 p.m. CST against Cal-State Fullerton.

• The Red Raiders began the season by going 3-2 last weekend at the CenturyLink Classic in San Marcos, Texas. After falling to Texas State in the opener, the Red Raiders snagged wins against Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, Iowa and Abilene Christian, before dropping the final game of the weekend to TAMUCC.

• Big bats that return to the lineup from last season include senior Kierra Miles, who broke the school record with 17 home runs in 2016. Along with Miles, senior Susan Welborn and sophomore Kiani Ramsey were All-Big 12 second team selections a year ago. Freshman Raina O'Neal and sophomore Kiana Workman burst onto the scene in San Marcos, combining for all five of the team's home runs.

• Freshmen pitchers Kassidy Scott and Hannah Broseman combined for 24.1 innings of work in San Marcos, each collecting wins in the process. With the addition of the two youngsters, Tech's rotation is currently ranked third in the Big 12 in team ERA, while Scott and senior Mattison Maisel are both in the top five in ERA at .095 and .000, respectively.

• In Adrian Gregory's mind, "to be the best, you have to play the best." The third-year head coach is putting that motto to the test this season as Texas Tech again boasts one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country. During the 2017 season, the Red Raiders will face two top 10 teams and 10 teams overall who are either ranked or receiving votes in the NFCA Coaches preseason Top 25. Texas Tech will see their first ranked opponent on Feb. 19 when the team will face off against Fresno State.

• The Red Raiders closed the 2016 season 23-32 overall and 6-12 in Big 12 play. Tech, which put together another strong offensive season, returns 17 letterwinners, including six position starters and three veteran pitchers to the rotation in 2017. Nine seniors, mixed with a core of talented underclassmen, look to return the Red Raiders to an NCAA Regional for the first time since 2012.

Softball Set to Begin Play in Puerto Vallarta

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Players Mentioned

Hannah Broseman

Kassidy Scott

Kiana Workman

Texas Tech University Athletics