Here is your Texas Tech sports news roundup for Monday, March 23, 2025.
Texas Tech softball drops top-15 road series
While most Texas Tech sports fans gave their attention to the men's basketball team's run through the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament this weekend, the Texas Tech softball team faced a difficult test of its own. Unfortunately, the No. 12 Red Raiders dropped two of three games on the road at No. 10 South Carolina.
The series featured three competitive games. Friday, Tech fell 5-2 despite getting six complete innings from starting pitcher Chloe Riassetto. After falling behind 2-0 after two innings, Tech tied the game with a pair of runs in the fifth. However, USC answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to secure the win.
Saturday, the offense couldn't hold up its end of the bargain in a 1-0 loss. Ace pitcher NiJaree Canady was again brilliant in the circle by giving up two hits and striking out nine while tossing a complete game. However, one of those hits was the first home run she had allowed all season, and that proved to be the game-winner.
Sunday, Tech responded with a 6-5 comeback win to salvage something from the series. After falling behind 5-0 after three innings, Tech rattled off three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to take the lead. Then, Canday came on in relief to toss two hitless innings to close things out.
The Red Raiders are now 24-9 overall on the season. Next, they return to Big 12 play with three games at Kansas this weekend.
Texas Tech baseball drops home series to TCU
It was another frustrating weekend for the Texas Tech baseball team, which dropped two of three games to TCU in Lubbock. That dropped the team to 7-13 overall. Fortunately, thanks to last weekend's three-game sweep at Houston, Tech still has a winning conference record of 4-2.
Friday, Tech looked dreadful in a 13-2 defeat. TCU used a five-run third inning to break open a 1-1 game and then cruise to the win. As has been the case for much of the season, starting pitching was a problem as starter Mac Heuer was tagged for six runs on six hits in just 3.0 innings of work. However, his defense did him little help as only one of those runs was earned. For the game, Tech committed three errors, something else that has been a problem for much of 2025.
Saturday, the Red Raiders bounced back with a 7-6 win to even the series. After jumping out to an early 5-0 lead, Tech saw TCU tie the game in the fifth. Tech then got single runs in the fifth and sixth before TCU answered with one in the ninth. However, relief pitcher Parker Hutyra was able to pick up the save. In the game, Tech got homers from Tracer Lopez and Logan Hughes.
Sunday was another close game. Unfortunately, the Horned Frogs would prevail 9-5 in 11 innings.
With the game tied 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth, Tech got the first two hitters of the inning on but couldn't execute well enough to bring one of them home. Then, in the eleventh, the visitors plated the four decisive runs.
Tech now turns its attention to a Tuesday home game against Tarleton State. Then, the Red Raiders head back out onto the road for a three-game weekend series at Kansas State.
Texas Tech Lady Raiders advance to WBIT quarterfinals
Though the Lady Raiders didn't make the NCAA Tournament, they are dancing in March thanks to their inclusion in the WBIT. Just like the men's basketball team in the NCAA Tournament this weekend, the women's team won two games to stay alive for the season.
Thursday, the Lady Raiders managed to pull off a 65-48 win over No. 4 seed, Wyoming, which was the favored team. Tech got 17 points from both Jasmine Shavers and Bailey Maupin to help secure the win.
It was domination from Tech in the second and third quarters that was the difference. In those two periods, the Lady Raiders outscored the Cowgirls 28-14 and held Wyoming to eight or fewer points in each.
Sunday, Tech took down No. 1 seed Virginia Tech 69-59 in Virginia Tech's home arena. Maupin led the way with 23 points, her 10th 20-point game of the season. Meanwhile, Shavers added 16, her 32nd double-digit scoring effort of the season.
Tech jumped out to a 21-12 lead after one quarter and never looked back. The Lady Raiders had the scoring advantage in three of the four quarters.
Next, Tech takes on No. 3 seed Florida on Thursday night. That game will be played in Gainesville, Florida.