Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Softball 2017 Season Preview
February 07, 2017 | Softball
Third-year head coach Adrian Gregory looks to lead the Red Raiders back into the postseason.
LUBBOCK, Texas - The 26th season of Texas Tech softball begins this week, and, strengthened by the return of six starters and their top three pitchers, the Red Raiders appear to have all of the tools needed to be a strong competitor in the Big 12 in 2017.
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Overview
• Texas Tech finished 23-32 last season, led by a strong offense that recorded its seventh straight season if hitting .280 or better as a team. The Red Raiders made a damaging impact on opposing teams by blasting 60 home runs last season, the second highest home run total in school history, just six home runs shy of the 2012 club. Overall, Texas Tech returns 16 position players, three pitchers and adds four newcomers to the fold.
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• The team's top four home run hitters are back, led by senior Kierra Miles, who became the school's single-season home run champion last year. The Mustang, Oklahoma, native blasted a total of 17 home runs, hit .344 with a slugging percentage of .724 while bringing in 50 RBI and 35 runs scored.Â
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• Sophomore Kiani Ramsey (.348, 23 runs, 21 RBI, eight doubles) is coming off a stellar freshman season that saw her leading the Big 12 in triples (four) with 15 multi-hit games, including five performances of three or more hits per game, earning her All-Big 12 Second Team and Big 12 All-Freshman Team accolades.
• Senior Susan Welborn (.256, 18 runs, 29 RBI, 11 home runs) enters 2017 as the starting catcher for Texas Tech. In 2016, Welborn was moved to catcher where she started 54 games for the Red Raiders and threw out 14 of 34 stolen base attempts. She was also amongst the team's top two home run leaders with 11. At the end of the 2016 season, Welborn earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors.
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• Sophomore Jessica Hartwell (.297, 24 runs, 21 RBI, eight home runs) made an immediate impact as a freshman throughout the infield, playing in 51 games with 50 starts. Offensively, Hartwell showed her strength and power with eight doubles, eight home runs and a slugging percentage of .547.
• Four freshmen were added to the roster this offseason and will look to add talent, athleticism and versatility: Hannah Broseman, Raina O'Neal, Kassidy Scott and Michaela Cochran.
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The Infield
Texas Tech must replace a pair of starters up the middle, but returns a versatile mix of three seniors and three sophomores who appear ready to fill in where needed. Senior Brittany Warnecke predominately played first base in the 2016 season, but has shown great versatility in any spot as a player in the infield. Senior Ashley Fultz made 46 appearances with 38 starts in the 2016 season, predominately at third base. Senior Devion Thomey made 50 appearances with 48 starts for the Red Raiders in her sophomore season, and will look to again compete for a starting role. Sophomore Jessica Hartwell looks to build on a strong freshman campaign in which she earned 50 starts. Also in the mix for more playing time are sophomores Kiana Workman and Kenzie Davis. Behind the plate, senior Susan Welborn held the spot as the starting catcher in 54 of the 55 games for the 2016 season for the Red Raiders. Competing for catching time is junior Allison Knopp.
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The Outfield
The Red Raiders will look to replace multi-year starter Jordan Bettiol in centerfield, but have a plethora of options available, including returning starters Kierra Miles and Kiani Ramsey. Also in the mix are seniors Sarah Weber and Camaury Washington, junior Kaylee Strickland, and a talented freshmen in Raina O'Neal. In the 2016 season, Miles started all 55 games in right field. In left field, Ramsey started 52 of the 55 games.
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Pitching
Texas Tech's entire pitching staff returns for the 2017 season, consisting of seniors Mattison Maisel and Domi Alcocer and junior Cheyene Powell. Tech has also added a few newcomers to the staff in freshmen Kassidy Scott and Hannah Broseman. Maisel led the team with 156 innings pitched and four saves in 2016, while Alcocer notched a team-best eight wins. Powell looks to return after a late season injury in 2016 that kept her from completing the season. Overall, the three returners each saw at least 88.2 innings last year. Looking at the freshmen, Scott led her team to the 5A State title in 2015 and was named the National Player of the Year for District 1-5A, and Broseman was named District MVP for District 17-6A following her junior season and was a three-time First Team All-District 17-6A honoree (2014-2016).
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The Schedule
Seven non-conference tournaments, 23 games against teams that made a 2016 NCAA Regional and 18 home games at Rocky Johnson Field. The Red Raiders' opening games of 2017 begin Feb. 10-12 at Bobcat Softball Stadium on the campus of Texas State. Tech launches its home slate March 3-5 with the Texas Tech Invitational as it hosts UTEP, Wichita State and North Texas. In Big 12 play, the Red Raiders host Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma, while traveling to Iowa State, Baylor, and Oklahoma State.
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What Returns
• 100% of the Red Raiders' pitching production from 2016.
• 69.1% of the Red Raiders' total hit production from 2016 (leaders Miles and Ramsey combined for 112 hits).
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• 68.7% of the Red Raiders' run production from 2016 (leaders Miles and Hartwell combined to score 59 runs).
• 77.4% of the Red Raiders' total RBI production from 2016 (leaders Miles and Warnecke combined for 74 RBI).
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• 83.3% of the Red Raiders' home run production from 2016 (leaders Miles and Welborn combined to hit 29).
• 45.6% of the Red Raiders' stolen base production from 2016 (leaders Miles (14-for-17), Hartwell (5-for-6) and Washington (5-for-6) for a total of 24-for-29).
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Overview
• Texas Tech finished 23-32 last season, led by a strong offense that recorded its seventh straight season if hitting .280 or better as a team. The Red Raiders made a damaging impact on opposing teams by blasting 60 home runs last season, the second highest home run total in school history, just six home runs shy of the 2012 club. Overall, Texas Tech returns 16 position players, three pitchers and adds four newcomers to the fold.
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• The team's top four home run hitters are back, led by senior Kierra Miles, who became the school's single-season home run champion last year. The Mustang, Oklahoma, native blasted a total of 17 home runs, hit .344 with a slugging percentage of .724 while bringing in 50 RBI and 35 runs scored.Â
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• Sophomore Kiani Ramsey (.348, 23 runs, 21 RBI, eight doubles) is coming off a stellar freshman season that saw her leading the Big 12 in triples (four) with 15 multi-hit games, including five performances of three or more hits per game, earning her All-Big 12 Second Team and Big 12 All-Freshman Team accolades.
• Senior Susan Welborn (.256, 18 runs, 29 RBI, 11 home runs) enters 2017 as the starting catcher for Texas Tech. In 2016, Welborn was moved to catcher where she started 54 games for the Red Raiders and threw out 14 of 34 stolen base attempts. She was also amongst the team's top two home run leaders with 11. At the end of the 2016 season, Welborn earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors.
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• Sophomore Jessica Hartwell (.297, 24 runs, 21 RBI, eight home runs) made an immediate impact as a freshman throughout the infield, playing in 51 games with 50 starts. Offensively, Hartwell showed her strength and power with eight doubles, eight home runs and a slugging percentage of .547.
• Four freshmen were added to the roster this offseason and will look to add talent, athleticism and versatility: Hannah Broseman, Raina O'Neal, Kassidy Scott and Michaela Cochran.
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The Infield
Texas Tech must replace a pair of starters up the middle, but returns a versatile mix of three seniors and three sophomores who appear ready to fill in where needed. Senior Brittany Warnecke predominately played first base in the 2016 season, but has shown great versatility in any spot as a player in the infield. Senior Ashley Fultz made 46 appearances with 38 starts in the 2016 season, predominately at third base. Senior Devion Thomey made 50 appearances with 48 starts for the Red Raiders in her sophomore season, and will look to again compete for a starting role. Sophomore Jessica Hartwell looks to build on a strong freshman campaign in which she earned 50 starts. Also in the mix for more playing time are sophomores Kiana Workman and Kenzie Davis. Behind the plate, senior Susan Welborn held the spot as the starting catcher in 54 of the 55 games for the 2016 season for the Red Raiders. Competing for catching time is junior Allison Knopp.
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The Outfield
The Red Raiders will look to replace multi-year starter Jordan Bettiol in centerfield, but have a plethora of options available, including returning starters Kierra Miles and Kiani Ramsey. Also in the mix are seniors Sarah Weber and Camaury Washington, junior Kaylee Strickland, and a talented freshmen in Raina O'Neal. In the 2016 season, Miles started all 55 games in right field. In left field, Ramsey started 52 of the 55 games.
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Pitching
Texas Tech's entire pitching staff returns for the 2017 season, consisting of seniors Mattison Maisel and Domi Alcocer and junior Cheyene Powell. Tech has also added a few newcomers to the staff in freshmen Kassidy Scott and Hannah Broseman. Maisel led the team with 156 innings pitched and four saves in 2016, while Alcocer notched a team-best eight wins. Powell looks to return after a late season injury in 2016 that kept her from completing the season. Overall, the three returners each saw at least 88.2 innings last year. Looking at the freshmen, Scott led her team to the 5A State title in 2015 and was named the National Player of the Year for District 1-5A, and Broseman was named District MVP for District 17-6A following her junior season and was a three-time First Team All-District 17-6A honoree (2014-2016).
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The Schedule
Seven non-conference tournaments, 23 games against teams that made a 2016 NCAA Regional and 18 home games at Rocky Johnson Field. The Red Raiders' opening games of 2017 begin Feb. 10-12 at Bobcat Softball Stadium on the campus of Texas State. Tech launches its home slate March 3-5 with the Texas Tech Invitational as it hosts UTEP, Wichita State and North Texas. In Big 12 play, the Red Raiders host Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma, while traveling to Iowa State, Baylor, and Oklahoma State.
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What Returns
• 100% of the Red Raiders' pitching production from 2016.
• 69.1% of the Red Raiders' total hit production from 2016 (leaders Miles and Ramsey combined for 112 hits).
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• 68.7% of the Red Raiders' run production from 2016 (leaders Miles and Hartwell combined to score 59 runs).
• 77.4% of the Red Raiders' total RBI production from 2016 (leaders Miles and Warnecke combined for 74 RBI).
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• 83.3% of the Red Raiders' home run production from 2016 (leaders Miles and Welborn combined to hit 29).
• 45.6% of the Red Raiders' stolen base production from 2016 (leaders Miles (14-for-17), Hartwell (5-for-6) and Washington (5-for-6) for a total of 24-for-29).
Players Mentioned
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RHP
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INF
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INF
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RHP
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RHP/DP
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OF
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INF
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