Red Raiders host Jayhawks this weekend

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech (24-12, 4-8) is set to host (RV) Kansas (25-12-1, 10-5) this weekend with game one beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday followed by a 4 p.m. Saturday game and a 12 p.m. Sunday game.

The Jayhawks enter the weekend having swept three of the last four Big 12 opponents they faced after taking all three against Iowa State last weekend.

Kansas boasts one of the better pitching duos in the Big 12 with Katie Brooks and Kasey Hamilton both having sub 3.00 ERAs and have 21 of the teams 25 wins credited to them.

The Red Raiders are coming off a 1-2 weekend against No. 21 Baylor. After taking the first game, Tech dropped the final two but played the Bears close on Saturday thanks to a stellar outing by freshman pitcher Mimi Blackledge.

STORYLINES:

• NO INTRODUCTION NEEDED – Sophomore Kailey Wyckoff is back to form after a “slow” start to the season. While it wasn’t slow in the traditional sense, the former Big 12 Freshman of the Year did take some time to get back to that level. She enters the weekend having recorded 13 hits over her last 10 games. Wyckoff is slashing .520/.920/.647 over those 10 games. She has also recorded 12 RBIs and drawn eight walks as she’s bumped her season average to a team best .437 on the year and leads the team with 45 hits.

• CRITES NEW HEIGHTS – There was no question of senior catcher Kennedy Crites’ defense entering the 2024 season. Last year she led the Big 12 in throwing out batters, but on offense she showed flashes in 2023 of bringing consistent production. After a slow start to the season, batting .185 entering the month of March, she has turned it on the last month. Over the team’s last 10 games, she is batting .417 – good for second best on the team over that stretch – with 10 hits, and three RBIs. She is also second on the team with a .571 batting average with runners in scoring position and has improved her season average to .385. She also has 30 total bases on the season, setting a new season-high for her.

• FEW BETTER THAN NO. 5 – Senior Riley Love has seemed to save the best for last as she has been on an absolute tear this season. She enters the weekend having recorded 32 hits, 11 doubles, 10 home runs, 38 RBIs and 75 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 and for April. Her doubles, RBIs and home runs rank in the top 10 in the Big 12.

• TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE – The Red Raiders are among the best teams in the country when it comes to turning double plays. They rank third in the nation in double plays per game, averaging .64. This all came to a peak when Tech recorded three double plays against Baylor in a 2-1 loss which set a new program high for double plays in a game. Tech is up to 23 twin killings so far this season, with the program record being 32 which was set back in 2003.

• IN THE RANKINGS – The Red Raiders currently sit at No. 37 in RPI and No. 37 in KPI. On offense, Tech ranks t-4th in the country for doubles per game (1.9), 20th in homers per game (1.22), 15th in slugging (.549) and runs per game (6.53), and 28th for batting average (.316). On defense, the Red Raiders rank t-4th in double plays (23), 3rd in double plays per game (.64).

• FRESH IMPACT – Like Halleman, Raegan Jennings has come in and immediately contributed in her first season in Lubbock. The second baseman has been hitting over .380 ON the season and jumped up to the leadoff spot for Snider over the last two weeks. Jennings’ performance this season is highlighted by a 4-for-4 day against ACU where she scored four runs and drove in another three while recording her first career triple. Mimi Blackledge has also made an impact as of late. The pitcher recorded the best outing of her young career against No. 21 Baylor on Saturday. The Bears’ recorded a lead-off homer, but after that were left with nothing but crumbs as Blackledge mowed down Baylor’s hitters – despite the late-inning loss.

PROMOTIONS:
The Red Raiders will be hosting “Meow in the Park” on Friday coupled with Taylor Swift day. Saturday will be highlighted by “Bark in the Park” and Sunday is Dads & Daughters Day at Rocky Johnson. See the website release for the forms to fill out if you plan on bringing your pet.

–TECH—

Release Provided By Jay Strader Texas Tech Athletics