Softball Opens NISC Regional in Conway on Wednesday

LUBBOCK, Texas – After receiving an automatic bid into the National Invitational Softball Championship, the Texas Tech softball team opens play at the Conway Regional against Stephen F. Austin on Wednesday at 3 p.m. from Farris Field on the campus of Central Arkansas.

The Conway Regional features two Southland Conference foes in SFA (31-22, 18-9) and host Central Arkansas (28-25, 16-11). UT Arlington (27-26, 14-12) of the Sun Belt, who Tech defeated 12-5 earlier this season, rounds out the regional field.

As the top Big 12 team left out of the NCAA Tournament, the Red Raiders (29-26, 5-13 Big 12) were one of 12 automatic qualifiers for the NISC's 17-team field. All games in Conway will be streamed via the Southland Digital Network, and live stats will be available through Sidearm.

Texas Tech is coming off a fourth-place showing at the 2018 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship. The Red Raiders knocked off No. 17 Baylor in their opener before falling to Oklahoma State and Texas.

The Red Raiders are 3-4 all-time against SFA in a series that dates back to 1996. The two teams last met in 2016 with the Ladyjacks taking a 10-1 win. Tech is 13-4 all-time against UT Arlington and has never played Central Arkansas.

The Ladyjacks finished fourth in the Sun Belt and are 5-5 in their last 10 games. Head coach Nicole Dickson is in her second season with the program and has a 48-55 overall record.

The NISC is an annual postseason event that reestablished in 2017. It will feature four regionals, which will be played at host fields, with a double-elimination format. Each regional champion will advance to the championship round May 23-26, where another double-elimination bracket at a host institution will decide the champion.

This marks Tech's sixth overall postseason appearance and the first in the NISC. The Red Raiders last participated in the postseason in 2012 in the NCAA Seattle Regional.

Keep up with all things Texas Tech softball by following the Red Raiders at @TexasTechSB on Twitter and Instagram and online at www.TexasTech.com.

Softball Opens NISC Regional in Conway on Wednesday

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