Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Texas
Red Raiders Host Texas Thursday-Saturday
April 12, 2017 | Softball
The three game set is Tech’s first series at home during Easter weekend since 2011.
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech softball wraps up its seven-game home stand as it hosts in-state rival Texas for a three-game series Thursday-Saturday, April 13-15, at Rocky Johnson Field.The series begins Thursday with a 6 p.m. first pitch, while Friday's contest is set for 4 p.m. and Saturday's series finale will begin at noon.
A live stream of each game will be available through TexasTech.TV, and live stats are available at TexasTech.StatBroadcast.com. KTXT 88.1 The Raider will provide a live audio stream for the Thursday and Saturday games.
The Red Raiders (17-20, 4-5) are coming off a 9-3 win in the series finale against Kansas last Sunday after dropping the first two games on the weekend. Tech currently sits at fourth in the Big 12 standings with just two more three-game sets remaining after facing the Longhorns this weekend.
Freshman Kassidy Scott has been solid in the circle for Tech, starting eight of nine conference games so far on her way to a 4.90 ERA in Big 12 play, while Senior Mattison Maisel has been impressive in relief with a 0.93 ERA in conference games. Senior Kierra Miles leads the offensive attack with a .393 batting average in league play, while freshman Raina O'Neal and senior Susan Welborn are second and fourth, respectively, in the Big 12 in home runs this season.
Texas (20-8, 0-6) enters the weekend on a four-game skid and has lost nine of its last 10 one-run games. The Longhorns opened Big 12 play with four one-run losses, including three at Oklahoma State before opening their series with No. 11/9 Oklahoma last weekend with a 3-2 loss. Texas is 18-4 when it scores three runs or more and 2-14 when held under three runs.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Texas Tech and Texas will meet for the 46th time in program history during Thursday's series opener. The Longhorns have historically controlled the series against the Red Raiders with a 35-10 all-time advantage, but head coach Adrian Gregory has bucked the trend with a 3-3 mark during her two seasons, including the program's first series win over the Longhorns the last time they came to Lubbock.
Tech head coach Adrian Gregory is the only coach in school history with three wins against the Longhorns. She led the Red Raiders to back-to-back wins in 2015 to take the series and a 3-2 win in the series opener last season in Austin.
The Red Raiders claimed their first series title against the Longhorns in 2015 when Tech claimed back-to-back wins against the Horns at Rocky Johnson Field to close out the three game set. The back-to-back wins marked the second time in series history that the Red Raiders emerged victorious against the Longhorns in consecutive games.
This season's matchup marks the third consecutive year where the two teams will meet as unranked teams. The two teams had not previously met as unranked foes before 2015.
QUICK HITS
• The three-game series wraps up a seven-game home stand, the longest of the season for the Red Raiders.
• With five home runs in last weekend's series against Kansas, Tech has hit 18 home runs in 12 home games in 2017.
• Head coach Adrian Gregory is 3-3 against the Longhorns in her stint at Texas Tech, winning three of the last five meetings overall between the two schools.
• The last time these two teams met in Lubbock, Tech won the series, two games to one behind a 4-0 win Saturday and a 7-3 win in the rubber match Sunday.
• Of 19 players who have contributed this season for the Red Raiders, nine of them are seniors highlighted by outfielder Kierra Miles, who is hitting .333, and first baseman Devon Thomey, hitting .327.
• Since the start of Big 12 play, Tech is tied for third in the league in hitting and is third in runs, with senior Kierra Miles hitting .393 during Big 12 play. Miles is also the league-leader in stolen bases since conference play began with eight.
• Freshman outfielder Raina O'Neal is second in the Big 12's in home runs with nine this season. She is also tied for seventh nationally among freshmen in home runs.
• Freshman pitcher Kassidy Scott leads all Big 12 freshmen and ranks third overall in innings pitched with 125 in 30 appearances. She has started eight of Tech's nine conference games this season.
• After being picked to finish sixth in the Big 12 preseason poll, Texas Tech enters the fourth week of conference play in fourth place in the Big 12 standings.
PROMOTIONS
Thursday: Masked Rider pre-game run, Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night
Friday: Friday Bingo, Post-Game Autographs
Saturday: Carnival Day, Post-Game Clinic
For a complete schedule of promotions for the 2017 season, visit here.
TICKETS
Adults - $5, Youth - $3
Individual tickets can be purchased in advance at the Athletic Ticket Office or one hour prior to every home Tech game at Rocky Johnson Field. For more ticket info, visit here.
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Texas Tech Athletics reminds fans that the Clear Bag Policy is in effect for the 2017 Red Raider Softball season. For info on the policy, visit here.
