Tech to open Big 12 play at No. 8 Texas

LUBBOCK, Texas – After earning a midweek win in its non-conference finale Wednesday, Texas Tech is primed to open Big 12 play at No. 8 Texas in a three-game series starting Friday.

The Red Raiders (26-8) are coming into Austin hot off a midweek, run-rule victory over Abilene Christian. With the win, Tech is now guaranteed to finish at least .500 this season.

The powerful Tech offense continued its tear, blasting a pair of two-run home runs against the Wildcats. The Red Raiders are now just nine home runs shy of matching the program record.

First pitch for Friday's matchup is set for 4:30 p.m. Both the Saturday and Sunday contests are set for 12 p.m. All three games of the series will be aired on the Longhorn Network.

KNOW YOUR FOE
Texas (27-5-1) also enters the weekend series fresh off a midweek win over Stephen F. Austin, where the Big 12 hits leader Leighann Goode went 2-for-3 in the leadoff spot. Just behind Goode in the league's hits rankings is Tech's own Makinzy Herzog.

Inside the circle, Mac Morgan sees the majority of the load for the Longhorns. Morgan boasts a 1.99 ERA and a 10-1 record in 74.0 innings of work. All four of Texas' pitchers have a sub 2.00 ERA.

QUICK HITTERS
• As just a freshman, Kailey Wyckoff is quickly making a name for herself. Coming into the weekend, the Katy, Texas native ranks ninth nationally in triples (four), 18th in slugging percentage (.842), fifth in total bases (80), sixth in doubles (11) and 26th in batting average (.453).
• Head Coach Craig Snider has been quotes many times saying that "the sign of a good offense is hitting doubles," and his Red Raiders have mastered the craft. Texas Tech leads the nation with 69 doubles.
• On a pitching staff that all eight hurlers are seen, transfer Sage Hoover leads the way with 70.0 innings of work, a 2.00 ERA and 78 strikeouts. The righty holds an 13-0 record, ranking fifth nationally in victories.
• Led by first-year head coach Craig Snider, the Red Raiders 26-8 record puts them off to the program's best start since 2019.
• After hitting just 36 home runs throughout the whole 2022 season, the Red Raiders have already smashed 57 home runs through the first 34 games of the season. The team is just nine homers shy of the program's single-season home run record.
• The Texas Tech Red Raiders begin a new era under head coach Craig Snider this season. Snider made previous stops at Texas A&M and Florida State as an assistant before becoming the ninth head coach in school history. The Franklin, Kentucky native brings a slew of post season experience, including a national championship.
• During the Red Raiders trip to El Paso, Texas for UTEP's tournament, the team coined a new softball-specific - Dwayne the Rock. During Dwayne's first tournament with the team, Tech posted a perfect 6-0 record and has since decided to keep him along for the rest of the 2023 campaign and can be seen with Page Mindedahl during starting lineups, every game.
• Wednesday's home game marks the lone home contests in a stretch where the Red Raiders will play 10 of 11 away from Rocky Johnson Field.
• After downing No. 25 Texas State in a doubleheader and toppling No. 22 Maryland, Texas Tech won three consecutive ranked matchups for just the third time in program history.
• This season, the Red Raiders have strung together two separate hefty win streaks. From February 11 to February 23, Texas Tech held a nine-game win streak while from March 10 to March 18, the Red Raiders held a 10-game win streak.

Tech to open Big 12 play at No. 8 Texas

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Players Mentioned

Makinzy Herzog

Sage Hoover

Page Mindedahl

Kailey Wyckoff

Texas Tech University Athletics