Softball Primed to Open Home Slate Friday-Saturday

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech softball launches its 2018 home slate this weekend as it welcomes Northwestern State to Rocky Johnson Field for three games Friday-Saturday, Feb. 23-24. The Red Raiders and Lady Demons square off at 4 p.m., Friday before playing a doubleheader Saturday with game times scheduled for 12 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.

Tickets are available online or at the gate, and are $5 for Adults and $3 for Youth (Ages 2-17).

The three contests kick off a nine-game home stand for the Red Raiders (4-5), which includes a midweek doubleheader next Tuesday with New Mexico State as well as the 2018 Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic next weekend. Opening Day T-Shirts will be handed out to the first 150 fans both Friday and Saturday. Additionally, fans can show their Kansas basketball tickets to access the group rate of $2 for Saturday's doubleheader.

Texas Tech started on the road for the first two weeks of the season. The Red Raiders took down Boston College in the first of four games in College Station, then traveled to Arlington where they scored a 12-5 win at UT Arlington. Last weekend, Tech posted a 2-2 showing at the UCF Tournament with wins over UCF and Hofstra.

"You can't replicate being in class longer, sleeping in your bed and going to your own nutrition stations," head coach Adrian Gregory said. "It's a whole different ballgame than being on the road again. This is a huge weekend for us to be playing at home so early in the season."

Both Texas Tech and Northwestern State enter the weekend series following midweek cancellations due to inclement weather. Tech had its Wednesday tilt against Abilene Christian rescheduled for May 1, while the Lady Demons had a matchup at UT Arlington postponed.

Northwestern State (8-3) carries an eight-game winning streak to Lubbock. The Lady Demons were swept in a three-game series at Baylor to open the season, but have since piled up wins over Memphis, Stephen F. Austin and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Sophomore Madelyn Matt is hitting .583 to lead the team while freshman Cayla Jones is just behind her hitting .520.

In the circle for the Lady Demons, junior Mikayla Brown (0-1) leads the team with five starts and has registered a 3.29 ERA. Brown and freshman Emma Callie Delafield have shared the majority of work for NSU as Delafield posts a 2.47 ERA.

The Red Raiders enter the weekend shorthanded without the full services of junior Jessica Hartwell, who injured her hand Sunday against Florida A&M. Hartwell leads the Red Raiders with a .455 average, three home runs and nine RBI.

Head coach Adrian Gregory seems to have found a solid one-two punch in the circle with sophomore Kassidy Scott and freshman Erin Edmoundson. The duo have combined to toss 47.2 of a possible 63 innings with Scott holding a 2.42 ERA and Edmoundson at 1.29. Texas Tech's pitching staff enters the weekend third in the Big 12 with a 2.89 ERA.

HOME OPENERS
The Red Raiders are 14-8 all-time in home openers since softball was resurrected as an intercollegiate sport in 1996. Texas Tech has won six of its last eight home openers, including a 2-1 mark under Gregory. Last season, Tech run-ruled UTEP 8-0 (5) in its home debut.

SERIES HISTORY
Friday's game between the Red Raiders and Lady Demons will mark just the second meeting all-time between the two schools. Texas Tech won the only prior matchup, 8-3, in 2007 in Tempe, Ariz. The Red Raiders are 30-21 all-time against current Southland Conference institutions, while NSU is 3-37 all-time against current Big 12 members.

COVERAGE
A live stream is available at TexasTech.TV ($) and live stats can be found through SidearmStats.com. Fans can also tune in to KTXT 88.1 for coverage of Friday's home opener.

LOOKING AHEAD
Following the weekend series with the Lady Demons, Tech continues its nine-game home stand with a midweek doubleheader against New Mexico State on Tuesday, Feb. 27, starting at 2 p.m. Next weekend, Texas Tech hosts the eighth-annual Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic, which will feature UTSA, New Mexico and Bowling Green.

Softball Primed to Open Home Slate Friday-Saturday

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Players Mentioned

Erin Edmoundson

Jessica Hartwell

Kassidy Scott