Texas Tech Red Raiders
Overall Rank: #16
Conference Rank: #4 Big 12
Head Coach Adrian Gregory and her staff have steadily built up the Texas Tech program into one that has gone on a nice run of multiple trips to the NCAA Tournament. In 2019, the Red Raiders won 42 games, including wins over Arizona State, Auburn, Texas, and Kentucky during the regular season. In the postseason, Texas Tech was sent to the Baton Rouge Regional and took LSU to a decisive game seven where they fell to the Tigers 5-1.
2019: 42-16, 8-10
2019 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Adrian Gregory
Key Departed Players:
Trenity Edwards, C, .357 BA, 14 HR, 45 RBI
Jessica Hartwell, INF, .317 BA, 9 HR, 56 RBI, 17 SB
Taylor Satchell, UTIL, 296 BA, 10 HR, 42 RBI, 8 SB
Key Returning Players:
Karli Hamilton, OF, .398 BA, 8 HR, 41 RBI, 13 SB
Heaven Burton, OF, .355 BA, 0 HR, 12 RBI, 22 SB
Zoe Jones, INF, .333 BA, 5 HR, 25 RBI
Breanna Russell, INF, .320 BA, 5 HR, 27 RBI, 5 SB
Missy Zoch, P, 2.71 ERA, 18-10 W/L, 157.2 IP, 87 BB, 163 SO
Erin Edmoundson, P/OF, 2.89 ERA, 20-5 W/L, 186.1 IP, 75 BB, 161 SO
Projection:
The Red Raiders are going to be aggressive offensively as they aren’t afraid to steal bases and generate pressure on opposing pitchers and defenses. Karli Hamilton and Heaven Burton will anchor the outfield as this duo provides a great mix of power and speed. Hamilton just missed hitting over .400 last season, finishing at .398 with eight homeruns, 41 runs batted in, and 13 stolen bases. Burton hit .355 and stole 22 bases in 26 attempts last season. Zoe Jones and Breanna Russell provide quality depth to the lineup as they can hit for a high average and provide some timely power when needed. Texas Tech should be fine in the circle as they bring back both Missy Zoch and Erin Edmoundson. This dup won 38 games, kept their earned run average under three, and both pitchers had nearly an outstanding 2:1 walk to strikeout ratio. The Red Raiders will get off to a fast start in week one at the Big Easy Classic. A trip to the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational will provide a nice mix of opportunities to build up the NCAA Tournament resume. The Red Raiders will play South Carolina, James Madison, Georgia, South Florida, and Washington in that event. A rematch against LSU at the Judy Garman Classic out in Fullerton on February 27, along with games against Michigan and BYU, will be interesting challenges as well. If Texas Tech can generate a little bit of power to replace the loss of Trenity Edwards, Jessica Hartwell, and Taylor Satchell then they will be in the mix for hosting a regional this season.
Projected Postseason: NCAA Softball Tournament
Madness 2020 Draft Rankings:
#19 Karli Hamilton
