We love you lovely Red Raiders and your questions, especially ones that allow us to throw some shine on a team that is fighting for y'all.
To be fair, outsiders and most fans would consider Texas Tech softball to be a year ahead of schedule should they barge their way into the postseason in Snider's second year at the helm. However this team, led by 10 seniors and a slew of talented underclassman, made it clear early on they wanted to prove they belonged in that conversation this season as well. And they've done that, as most "bracketologists" at this point have them on the bubble as one of the first teams out or last teams in with work to be done after missing some opportunities against UCF and most recently No. 21 Baylor (got "upset win" in game one but dropped series) on the road. With 12 games to go and a RPI of 37th in the country....the opportunity to go out and take it is there but the time is most certainly now to do so.
Currently they are 22-12 overall with a 4-8 conference record in the GAUNTLET that is the Big 12 conference. You don't need a winning conference record to make postseason, let's start there.....three of the nation's Top 5 teams are in the Big 12, THREE OF THE TOP FIVE. It's the Hunger Games out here. Simply being alive at the end of it should be enough in our opinion but unfortunately they haven't given us a vote yet (rude.) How many wins do they need? Perhaps you can get in with less because of said gauntlet but for the sake of this discussion let's go with 8 wins, which means they need to find at least 4 wins in their next 12 (this bubble gum math is all assuming the snowed out Iowa State series is not rescheduled.) For reference Missouri got in last season with a 7-17 conference record and 37th ranked RPI...in theory that's right about what Texas Tech would be if not slightly better in a very competitive Big 12.
Where do those four come from? Well six of those 12 games come against No. 3 Oklahoma State on the road and No. 4 Texas at home. Let them cook and pull an upset or two by all means but worst case they drop all 6? Math makes it real simple, you need 4 out of 6 against No. 21 Kansas at home and Houston on the road, which isn't an easy task, but absolutely doable for this group when they lock in.
The future of the program is enormously bright, we can all see that, but you also can't help but be greedy and want these seniors to finish with a postseason bid for all they've given the program. Particularly those that have stuck through multiple coaching changes in their tenure when they so easily and understandably could have gone elsewhere....they deserve this. You don't always get what you deserve in life though. Lucky for them there is still opportunity ahead for them to go out and take it.
Big series this weekend at home versus a very good Kansas team. Be there and support them Lubbock if you can. Let's get them this series win (mess around and sweep those birds we say) to light a fire under the postseason chatter.
By the Numbers
As a team Texas Tech is currently ranked 4th in the Big 12 in batting average (.316), 1st in doubles (68), 4th in home runs (44) 3rd in stolen bases (56-61), 7th in ERA (4.31) and 4th in fielding percentage (.970).
Individually sophomore Kailey Wyckoff sits 5th in the conference in batting average overall (.437) but 1st in batting average (.537) and doubles (5) during solely Big 12 play through 12 games played. She was named to Softball America's Top 10 best Utility Player list last week.
Also honored by Softball America as the 6th best third baseman in the country, senior Riley Love is tied for 1st in the Big 12 in doubles (11) and 6th in home runs (10) while also driving in 38 runs and slugging .787 so far this season.
In the circle, the Red Raiders have senior Maddy Wright who currently holds the 16th best ERA in the conference at 3.67 and sits 5th in complete games with six, one spot behind teammate Maddie Kuehl who has 7 complete games this season.
Other stats of note on the individual side are freshman Raegan Jennings currently at 21st overall in batting average hitting .321 and fellow freshman Logan Halleman 2nd in conference in steals having swiped 17-18 safely thus far.
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Had no idea how stacked the Big 12 is in softball. Jeepers. Looks like OU and Texas are heavy weights how will the conference look after they leave and whoever it is in Pac12 joins?
Really enjoy watching this team play this season. They have fun and know how to hit!