The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas Tech
No. 17/16 Softball preview: at Texas Tech
04.28.2022 | Softball
The Longhorns head back out on the road in Big 12 play to battle the Red Raiders
No. 17/16 Texas (32-15-1, 7-5 Big 12) at Texas Tech (22-23, 5-10 Big 12) | April 29-May 1 | Rocky Johnson Field, Lubbock, Texas
Schedule:
Friday, April 29
5 p.m. #17/16 TEXAS at Texas Tech – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Saturday, April 30
2 p.m. #17/16 TEXAS at Texas Tech – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Sunday, May 1
12 p.m. #17/16 TEXAS at Texas Tech – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Location: Lubbock, Texas (Rocky Johnson Field)
Ticket Information: LINK
Live Stats: LINK
Television: All three games are currently scheduled for web stream on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
Radio: Texas' games this season are scheduled for radio broadcast via web stream with Andrew Haynes on the call via this LINK. The Texas broadcast can also be heard locally on 105.3 FM as part of the Austin Radio Network supported by the flagship radio station of the Longhorns, 104.9 FM The Horn.
Base Knocks:
- Assuming she starts & plays in Friday's series opener at Texas Tech, senior second baseman Janae Jefferson will break a tie with former Longhorns player Desiree Williams (2005-09) to become the program's career leader with both 248 career starts & games played.
- Sophomore outfielder Alyssa Popelka has cranked up the offense since starting league play by hitting a team-best .458 (11-for-24) in Big 12 games with a .519 OBP & five multi-hit efforts.
- Jefferson is currently riding a 14-game reached base streak. Over that stretch, she is batting .523 (23-for-44) overall with 18 runs, six extra-base hits & a .593 OBP.
- With 45 doubles, Jefferson is also within striking distance of the Texas career doubles record of 48 currently held by former Longhorns Kaitlyn Washington (2017-21) & Jodi Reeves (1997-2000).
- Jefferson (196 career runs) is also just four runs from joining former Longhorns standout Taylor Hoagland (221 runs – 2010-13) as the only members of the Texas 200-career-run club.
- The Longhorns rank No. 6 in NCAA Division I in total doubles with 79 (as of April 26), trailing only Louisiana (87), Notre Dame (87), North Dakota State (86), Illinois (84) & LSU (81). Janae Jefferson (14) leads Texas.
- Texas has registered 23 total wins over current Top 100 RPI teams in 2022, including eight over top 50 RPI squads.
- The Longhorns rank No. 16 in the latest Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) that's used as one of the tools to seed postseason play and are No. 11 in strength of schedule.
- Watch out for Mia Scott with the bases loaded. The freshman third baseman is 4-for-6 (.667) in such situations and recently unloaded the bags with a key three-run double during the 4-2, streak-busting upset of No. 1 Oklahoma.
- Texas senior pitcher Hailey Dolcini picked up her SECOND Wilson/NFCA National Pitcher of the Week & Big 12 Conference Co-Pitcher of the Week honors over a span of 21 days on April 19 after posting a 1-1 overall record against No. 1 Oklahoma with a 2.00 ERA, two complete games and seven K's over 14.0 IP while limiting the nation's top-ranked offense to just five total hits and a .100 overall batting average. She's won 10 of her last 14 decisions dating back to March 12.
- Texas has won six of their last 11 games against ranked teams dating back to March 16 (including five in a row at one point & a victory over No. 1 Oklahoma) after starting the season with just a 1-6 mark versus rated foes.
- Senior second baseman Janae Jefferson has quietly been climbing her way up the national stat rankings. The Humble, Texas, product now rates ninth in all of NCAA Division I in hits (63) and 23rd in doubles (14).
