LUBBOCK, TX — In a pivotal Big 12 softball showdown, No. 14 Texas Tech travels to Tucson for a three-game series against No. 12/13 Arizona, pitting the top two teams in the conference standings against each other. The series opens Thursday at 7 p.m. on ESPN+, continues Friday at 7 p.m. on FS1, and concludes Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
Texas Tech (34-9, 14-1 Big 12) enters the weekend riding an 11-game win streak — its longest since 2019 — and coming off a series sweep of Houston that set a new program record for Big 12 wins in a single season. Arizona (36-7, 13-5) is also surging, having swept Kansas last weekend and won five straight.
Junior NiJaree Canady powered the Red Raiders to a 3-2 win Friday over Houston, throwing a complete game in the circle and belting two home runs, driving in all three Tech runs. Canady leads the Big 12 in ERA (0.72) and slugging percentage (.684) during conference play.
Senior outfielder Demi Elder has also provided a major spark since returning to the lineup. The Red Raiders are 11-0 with Elder back in the starting nine, and she’s reached base safely in every game while batting .444 on the season.
The Red Raiders lead the Big 12 in batting average (.339), ERA (1.44) and fielding percentage (.982) during conference action.
Freshman shortstop Hailey Toney is one of just five first-year shortstops nationally to start every game this season — and the only one from a Power Four conference. She recently had a 20-game on-base streak while hitting .320 with four home runs, 22 RBIs and a team-high 10 doubles.
Third baseman Bailey Lindemuth has started 41 of 43 games and also logged time in the circle, making Tech one of the few programs starting freshmen at both shortstop and third base.
Alongside Canady, junior left-hander Chloe Riassetto has emerged as one of the league’s best arms. In Big 12 play, Riassetto ranks second in ERA (0.97), first in runs (3), hits (14) and earned runs (3) allowed, and fourth in opponent batting average (.182).
Arizona leads the all-time series 11-1, with Tech’s lone win coming in 1998 when the Wildcats were ranked No. 1 nationally. Arizona has won 10 straight against the Red Raiders, though the two programs haven’t met since 2011.
Following the series, Tech will return home for its final conference series of the season before postseason play begins. The Red Raiders are aiming to lock in a top seed for the Big 12 Championship with a strong showing this weekend.
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