Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Softball Hosts Iowa State
April 25, 2008 | Softball
April 25, 2008
LUBBOCK, Texas -
On Deck
After taking a brief step away from conference play to take on UT-Arlington, Texas Tech jumps right back into conference action as it hosts Iowa State for a weekend series Saturday and Sunday. First pitch Saturday is set for 2 p.m. CT, while Sunday's action is scheduled to get underway at 12 p.m.
There will be little rest for the Red Raiders from there as New Mexico comes rolling into town for a Monday afternoon double header. The first game with the Lobos is scheduled to get under way at 1 p.m. It is the make up of the previously scheduled double header that was postponed earlier in the season.
On Air
Fans can follow all of Texas Tech's home games via 1420 AM in the Lubbock area. Matt Driskill will call the action, while Harley Chambliss provides color commentary.
Tech vs. Iowa State
Tech and Iowa State have met 24 times previously coming into this weekend. Tech holds a 13-11 series advantage and has won five of the last six meetings. The Red Raiders hold a 6-4 advantage all time in Lubbock, and swept the last home series in 2006. The Cyclones last swept a series with Tech in 2002.
Scouting the Cyclones
ISU started the season with an 18-4 mark, but have gone just 8-19 since. The Cyclones boast three players hitting over .300 on the year, led by infielder Ariel Coburn's .347 clip. The senior also paces the Cyclones with eight home runs and 25 RBI on the season. Sophomore Courtney Wray is close behind Coburn with a .345 avg. Sophomore Sydni Jones has six homers. Freshman Rachel Zabriskie leads the Cyclone hurlers with a 2.87 ERA and a 12-10 record. Coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler is in her third season at ISU and seventh season overall.
Arlington Wrap Up
After falling to the Mavericks 5-3 in extra innings in the first game, Tech rebounded with eight runs on 12 hits to take game two 8-1... all six of UT-Arlington's runs on the day came via the long ball... Robyn Wike had hits in both games to extend her hitting streak to seven games... Senior Jennifer Corkin had a season-high four RBI in game two.
Bear Sweeping
Tech swept perennial-power Baylor last weekend by scores of 4-1 and 4-3 to mark the Red Raiders' first regular-season sweep over the Bears since 1998. It was also the first time since 2003 that Baylor had been swept at home in a conference series.
Numbers to Note
The Red Raiders' win over Baylor Sunday gave them five conference wins this season, which is the most for Tech since 2001, when it won 10 games... Tech has won nine home games this season, which marks the most home wins under Teresa Wilson and the most home wins in a season since 1998, when the Red Raiders won 10 home games... The Red Raiders went 6-2 over their last eight games last year as part of their Cinderella run to the Big 12 Championship game.
Rockin Robyn
No Tech player has been hitting as well as senior Robyn Wike coming into this weekend. The senior has a .368 average with two homers, two doubles, four RBI and a .789 slugging percentage over the last seven games. Coming into this stretch, she was hitting just .187. During this stretch, she has raised her season average 31 points. Her two dingers in there equal her career high from 2006.
Rewinding through Last Week
After sweeping a UT-San Antonio Tuesday, Tech ran smack into a hot Texas team Thursday that beat the Red Raiders 10-1. Tech responded in great fashion by sweeping Baylor during the weekend... Seniors Robyn Wike and Jennifer Bowers picked up their hitting in big ways, with Bowers hitting .300 for the week to go along with two home runs against the Bears. Wike hit .333 for the week and extended her hitting streak to a career-best five games.
Lights Out Watkins
Alex Watkins enjoyed a career day last Tuesday against UT-San Antonio. The Big Spring, Texas, native threw two shutout innings with four strikeouts in the first game against the Roadrunners before allowing just one hit while striking out eight in her first-ever complete-game shutout in game two... For the day, the junior threw nine scoreless innings while strking out 12 and allowing just two hits and one walk.
Sizzling Seniors
Bowers and Wike have been swinging sweet sticks of late, as evidenced by their .300-plus batting averages last week. Bowers hit .308 with two home runs while slugging .846 last week... Wike is hitting .353 over her last six games, including two homers and six RBI.
Big 12 Pitcher of the Week
Sophomore Ashly Jacobs was named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Week two weeks ago for her efforts in helping Tech to its first victories over Nebraska in seven years and its first-ever season sweep over the Huskers. The Houston, Texas, native went 2-0 and pitched 11.2 scoreless innings while giving up just one walk and striking out six for the week.
Nebraska Numbers
It was a weekend of note for the Red Raiders April 5-6, as they beat Nebraska for the first time in seven years and the first time ever in Lubbock, in addition to recording their first-ever season sweep of the Cornhuskers... Legler led Tech with a .500 avg. for the weekend, while Ashly Jacobs pitched 11.2 shutout innings and picked up wins in both games. Jennifer Corkin hit her second home run of the season in Friday's game, and Devin Zaragoza hit .429 with a pair of RBI over the two games.
No Runs for You
Jacobs recently completed a string of 22.2 consecutive shutout innings before being scratched for a run... She allowed just two runs, only one of which was earned, over 25.2 innings from March 29 to April 8.
In Perspective
Twenty-four of the Red Raiders' losses this season have come against teams that are either ranked in the Top 25 or have been receiving votes. Fourteen losses have come against Top 25 teams, while 15 losses have been by two runs or less.
Can You Say Strength of Schedule?
Eight of Tech's 2008 opponents are currently ranked in the Top 25, while two others are receiving votes... Twelve teams on the Red Raiders' schedule were ranked in the preseason polls.
On the Road
The Red Raiders played their first 29 games on the road. Playing that many road games to start a season is nothing unusual for the Red Raiders under Teresa Wilson. In 2006, Tech played its first 34 games, including four conference games, on the road. Last year, the Red Raiders played its first 30 contests away from Lubbock before playing its first home game at Rocky Johnson Field.
Killer Tomatoes
While not one of their usual uniform combinations, the Red Raiders may want to consider playing more games in an odd looking red-jersey, red-pant motife. Tech has gone 6-1 while hitting .314 and scoring a combined 41 runs on 60 hits in this combo. Opponents have hit just .160 against Tech in this outfit. Four Red Raiders are hitting .400 or better while wearing all red.
