Here's a look at all the latest from the Texas Tech athletic department for May 23, 2025.
Texas Tech softball's NiJaree Canady a finalist for national Player of the Year
It should come as no surprise that Texas Tech's star softball player, NiJaree Canady is a finalist for the USA Softball 2025 National Player of the Year Award. After all, she has been the most dominant two-way player in the sport this season.
The Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, Canady won this award in 2024. This season, she currently has a 0.88 ERA with 276 strikeouts and a 29-5 record in the circle. At the plate, she is hitting .322 with 11 home runs and 34 RBI.
The two other finalists are Jordy Bahl of Nebraska and Bri Ellis of Arkansas. The winner will be annoucned on May 27 at the athlete banquet prior to the NCAA Women’s College World Series.
Texas Tech track coach Wes Kittley honored by the Big 12
Another Red Raider who was honored this week is head track and field coach Wes Kittley. The legendary coach was named the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Men's and Women's Coach of the Year on Thursday. This is Kittley's 11th Big 12 Coach of the Year award.
In 2025, Kittley guided the Texas Tech men's and women's track and field programs to sweeps of the indoor and outdoor Big 12 titles. Each team won four Big 12 crowns in the recently completed outdoor conference championships.
Texas Tech baseball season ends with a loss in Big 12 Tournament
There won't be too many Big 12 yearly honors for the Texas Tech baseball team, unfortunately. This week, one of the worst seasons in program history came to a merciful end in the Big 12 Tournament.
Tech lost its opening game in Arlington, Texas 6-5 to Cincinnati on Wednesday at Globe Life Park. That eliminated the Red Raiders and killed any hope of making a Cinderella run to the NCAA Tournament by winning the conference tournament.
The Red Raiders fell behind 4-1 after the third inning. Then, down 6-3 in the eighth, two Red Raider runs cut the deficit to just one.
In the ninth, Tech got the equalizing run on base but couldn't bring him home. That put an end to a disaster of a season.
According to Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Tech's 20-33 record is the program's worst in terms of total wins and winning percentage since 1983. Certainly, the leadership of the program will have to do some major soul searching before next season.
Four Texas Tech baseball players named All-Big 12
Though the season was forgettable, four Texas Tech baseball players stood out enough this spring to earn All-Big 12 recognition. Logan Hughes, who led the conference in homers, was named to the first team along with outfielder Damian Bravo. Meanwhile, first baseman Robin Villeneuve and pitcherJack Cebert garnered Second Team All-Big 12 honors.
Tech has now had an All-Big 12 first or second-team selection in every year since 2003. However, that is little consolation given the overall disappointment that was the 2025 season.