Red Raiders open up Big 12 play in Provo

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech softball will open conference play against BYU on Thursday, March 7 in Provo, Utah at 6 p.m. CT.

Thursday will be game one of a three-game series between the two schools as the Cougars will host their first ever Big 12 series.

Game two is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. CT and game three on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT. However, time and dates of games are subject to change with potentially snowy conditions listed in the forecast.

Historically, the Red Raiders (17-4) and Cougars (14-4) have played just three times with Tech leading the series 2-1. The last time these two teams faced however, BYU took the game 7-5 back in February of 2020.

RANKINGS, STATS & STORYLINES:

The first RPI rankings of the 2024 season were released on Monday which saw the Red Raiders came it at No. 38. This is a vast improvement from last season when they started the year at No. 86 before moving their way up to No. 67.
Maddy & Maddie:
The bullpen was of some interest heading into the 2024 season. The Red Raiders have a good amount of arms, but not much experience behind those arms. Transfer Maddy Wright helped alleviate some of that when she committed to play for coach Snider following four years at Charlotte. Wright has been as advertised early on, with a 1.63 ERA and has a solid 5-1 record. A pleasant surprise early, however, has been the emergence of junior pitcher Maddie Kuehl. In 12 appearances she has already set new career-highs in innings pitched, batters faced, saves, complete games and strikeouts. This was all highlighted by her brilliant complete game performance against Texas State where she struck out a career-high seven batters in route to her second win of the season. Kuehl then set another career high for strikeouts, sitting down nine against New Mexico State as she improved to 5-3 on the season.
Few better than No. 5:
· Senior Riley Love has seemed to save the best for last as she has been on an absolute tear to start the 2024 season. Love has recorded 20 hits, eight doubles, six home runs, 26 RBIs and 48 total bases – all of which mark career highs. Her glove has been just as solid, having several stellar plays at the hot corner to save runs and base hits. For her impressive start she was recognized as the No. 6 ranked third baseman in the country by Softball America for the month of March.

Freshmen Impact:
· The Red Raiders welcomed freshman outfielder Logan Halleman this year and she has immediately made an impact. Halleman drew comparisons to former College World Series Champion and current assistant coach Morgan Klaevemann for her speed both on the base paths and in the outfield. She has started her career a perfect 9-for-9 on stolen bases, which leads the Big 12, while hitting a team-best .385 in 19 games played. Along with Halleman, freshman infielder Raegan Jennings has been making her name known in her first collegiate season. The Atascocita native has played in 10 games, starting eight of them, and is hitting .360 on the year with a pair of homers. Her first home run at Rocky Johnson Field traveled a monstrous 264 feet, marking the longest recorded home run of the season so far for the Red Raiders.

Rains Career Season:
· Senior Olivia Rains has gone along with the theme of ‘saving the best for last.’ The Pryor, Oklahoma native is an unblemished 5-0 on the year, setting a career high for wins, while recording a solid 3.32 ERA. Her season was highlighted by a complete game 5.0 inning performance where she shutout New Mexico State and allowed just two hits.

–TECH—

Release Provided By Jay Strader Texas Tech Athletics