The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas Tech
No. 10/8 Softball preview: Texas Tech
03.23.2023 | Softball
For the third time under head coach Mike White, Texas will begin Big 12 Conference action at home
AUSTIN, TX – After 33 non-conference games to begin the 2023 softball season, the Big 12 Conference portion of The University of Texas' schedule gets underway this weekend when the Longhorns host Texas Tech for a three-game series, including Saturday's game presented by Sprouts Farmers Market.
The two teams will begin action at 4:30 PM CT on Friday, March 24, before playing both Saturday and Sunday's games at 12 PM.
All three games can be seen on Longhorn Network with Alex Loeb and Cat Osterman on the call. Additionally, Andrew Haynes can be heard on 105.3 FM describing the game's action.
LEADING OFF
- One win over Texas Tech this weekend would mark the 20th win for Texas at Red & Charline McCombs Field this season, marking the third consecutive season with at least 20-or-more wins at home.
- Note: The Longhorns won only 16 of 18 home games before the COVID-19 pandemic halted the 2020 season.
- Under fifth-year head coach Mike White, Texas has won 20-or-more home games during all five seasons.
- 2019: 27
- 2020: 16*
- 2021: 30
- 2022: 20
- 2023: 19**
- *season was not completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- **active
- Texas will enter Friday afternoon's conference-opening game against Texas Tech having won its last four consecutive Big 12 Conference-opening softball games dating back to the 2018 season.
- The Longhorns have won all three of its conference-opening games under fifth-year head coach Mike White.
- 2022: Kansas, W (7-6)
- 2021: Texas Tech, W (5-0)
- 2020: COVID-19 Pandemic
- 2019: Iowa State, W (11-0, 5 innings)
- The Longhorns were set to begin Big 12 play at Oklahoma on Friday, March 20 before the COVID-19 pandemic halted the season after Texas' last game on Sunday, March 8 against New Mexico.
- Texas is 2-0 all-time when beginning Big 12 action against Texas Tech with both games happening in Austin.
- 2021: W, 5-0
- 2012: W, 8-0 (6 innings)
- The Longhorns have won all three of its conference-opening games under fifth-year head coach Mike White.
- Entering Friday afternoon's game against the Red Raiders, Leighann Goode leads the Big 12 Conference with 48 hits in 33 games played.
- Texas Tech's Makinzy Herzog is second with 45 hits.
- Additionally, Goode (48) and teammate Viviana Martinez (44) lead all Big 12 freshman softball student-athletes in hits.
- The Red Raiders' Kailey Wyckoff is third with 43 hits.
- A win by Texas over Texas Tech this weekend would make the Longhorns one of just four Division I softball programs with at least 20 home wins this season.
- USF (19) and Grand Canyon (19) can also accomplish the feat and ultimately push the total to six programs.
- Texas will enter this weekend's three-game series against Texas Tech with the sixth-highest team batting average in the nation (.355) and the second best in the Big 12 Conference.
- Of the teams ranked in the top 10, nationally, four are Big 12 programs:
- Oklahoma, .399
- Texas, .355
- Oklahoma State, .353
- Texas Tech, .340
- Of the teams ranked in the top 10, nationally, four are Big 12 programs:
FOLLOW US
- For the latest information on the team, follow @TexasSoftball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at @TexasLonghorns on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
