Softball Races Past Chaparrals for Second Fall Win

Thursday, September 20

Lubbock, TX

5 PM

Texas Tech Athletics

Midland College

Softball Races Past Chaparrals for Second Fall Win

September 20, 2018 | Softball

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Red Raiders improve to 2-0 this fall, return to action next Wednesday at the Rock.

By: Ty Parker, Texas Tech Athletics Communications

LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas Tech softball team continued its strong start to the fall with a 23-1 victory over Midland College Thursday at Rocky Johnson Field.

With the win, the Red Raiders improve to 2-0 this fall and are outscoring opponents by a combined 45-2 margin. Tech scored three in the first and four in the second for a 7-1 lead, and then broke the game open with 11 runs in the fifth to go up 19-1.

"We care about are we getting better each and every day," head coach Adrian Gregory said about their approach in the fall. "Are we learning how to take extra bases. Are we learning how to get great leads. Are we learning how to get great reads off of the bat. That's what we're concerned about. Right now, we're trying to figure out with each day and each at-bat how are we getting better for the spring."

Tech piled up 20 hits on the evening after a 19-hit performance Tuesday against Odessa College. Five Red Raiders tallied multi-hit games, led by a 5-for-5 day from sophomore Heaven Burton.

Ten of Tech's 11 newcomers received time, including starts from freshmen Peyton Blythe, Zoe Jones and Miranda Padilla. For the second straight game, Tech posted a clean sheet defensively with zero errors.

"We're playing good defense," Gregory said. "Our pitchers have done a good job of keeping the ball in the dirt. We're not giving up a lot of hits. For what we're trying to do, which is be better defensively, I think we're doing that."

DePaul transfer Missy Zoch got the start in the circle and turned in four quality innings. She struck out nine Chaparrals while giving up just four hits and a run. Freshman Morgan Hornback came on in the fifth and tossed three innings of hitless ball with four strikeouts.

Texas Tech returns to action Wednesday, Sept. 26, with a doubleheader against Howard College scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. CT at Rocky Johnson Field.

Keep up with all things Texas Tech softball by following @TexasTechSB on Twitter and Instagram and visit www.TexasTech.com for the latest news and results.