Custer, Miles Lead Texas Tech in Debut Under Gregory
October 14, 2014 | Softball
Kierra Miles drove in three runs Tuesday evening as the Red Raiders opened their fall slate with a pair of victories over West Texas A&M. Miles ended the doubleheader 3-for-6 at the plate with three RBI.
Oct. 14, 2014
LUBBOCK, Texas - Kierra Miles combined for three RBI while Cara Custer struck out 12 hitters Tuesday evening as Texas Tech kicked off its fall slate with a pair of victories over West Texas A&M at Rocky Johnson Field.
Miles connected on a towering solo home run in the opener, a 1-0 shutout for the Red Raiders, before returning with a two-run double in the nightcap where Tech scored a 6-3 victory.
Custer, meanwhile, earned the shutout victory in the opener before returning for a three-inning save later in the evening. The senior allowed just two hits over the span of her 10 total innings against the Lady Buffs, the reigning NCAA Division-II National Champions.
The two performances highlighted a successful first night for Tech under Adrian Gregory, who made her official debut leading the Red Raiders as the seventh head coach in program history.
"We were very excited for our `opening day' today," Gregory said. "There is something contagious about gameday atmospheres, and I think we had some good things happen today. We had quality at-bats and good outings from our pitchers. We are nowhere near where we need to be, but I feel we learn more about our kids and each other each day we are together. We want to thank those who came out today and we look forward to this journey that we will have together."
She relieved Mattison Maisel following a leadoff double to start the fifth in the nightcap and proceeded to strike out five of the next seven hitters she faced, including the side in a three-up, three-down sixth inning. Custer finished with six strikeouts in each of the two games.
There is something contagious about gameday atmospheres, and I think we had some good things happen today. We had quality at-bats and good outings from our pitchers. - Adrian Gregory
Maisel earned the win in the second game as she relieved Chandler Moore in a 3-3 tie after the Lady Buffs opened the fourth inning with a leadoff double. Maisel struck out the first two hitters she faced before forcing a ground ball to second to get the Red Raiders out of the jam.
The Red Raiders opened the game with a three-run first inning after Miles doubled down the left field line to score Hopson and newcomer Jordan Bettiol. Miles later scored off an infield single from freshman Kaylee Strickland.
Miles' solo shot in the opener broke up a scoreless game in the bottom of the sixth. She ended the day 3-for-6 overall at the plate as she also singled in the fourth inning of the first game.
Tech resumes its fall schedule in just over a week as the Red Raiders will host UTEP in a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Oct. 25. All fans receive complimentary admission for fall games at Rocky Johnson Field.
