Texas Tech sports roundup: Softball eyes title, Lady Raiders add forward, more

Texas Tech softball can claim Big 12 crown at home

This could be an unprecedented weekend for the Texas Tech softball program. If the No. 11 Red Raiders can win at least two of their three games in Lubbock against Arizona State, they will clinch the Big 12 regular-season title for the first time in program history. Even just one win against the Sun Devils will ensure that Tech will claim at least a share of the league crown.

Arizona State will pose a tough test, though. They enter the weekend 33-16 overall and 13-8 in the Big 12. What's more, they have an ace pitcher to put up against Tech's star NiJaree Canady. ASU features senior Kenzie Brown in the circle. She has an ERA of 1.19 and is second in the nation in strikeouts at 237.

It should be an exciting weekend at Rocky Johnson Field. Game one starts tonight at 6 p.m. Central with Saturday's game set for 4 p.m. and Sunday's finale to take place at noon.

Texas Tech softball player hits for the cycle

Speaking of the softball program making history, earlier this week, the program had its first-ever player hit for the cycle. In Wednesday's 12-3 five-inning win over UT-Arlington in Lubbock, junior leadoff hitter Mihyia Davis went 4-4 with four RBI and three runs scored en route to hitting for the cycle.

Tech went to the plate only four times in the run-rule win. Remarkably, Davis got to hit in each frame. That included an impressive fourth-inning homer to complete the cycle in her final at-bat of the day.

The transfer from Louisiana Lafayette has been a tremendous addition this season. She is hitting .385 with 19 RBI and 46 runs scored as the lineup's table setter. Now, she's etched her name in program history as the first Tech softball player to hit for the cycle.

Texas Tech Lady Raiders add forward

The Texas Tech Lady Raiders welcomed a new forward to the program this week. Julie Nekolna, a 6-foot-3 junior from Prague, Czech Republic is the newest addition to Krista Gerlich's team.

This past season, Nekolna helped Shelton State in Alabama reach the JUCO National Championship game. She averaged 9.6 points and 7.3 rebounds in 2024-25.

Nekolná shot 56.5 percent overall from the floor (195-for-345) and 80.6 percent from the free throw line (129-for-160), while totaling 524 points this past season. Additionally, she pulled down 236 rebounds (6.6 per game), handed out 43 assists, and blocked 44 shots while coming up with 29 steals. She led Shelton State in blocks and was second in rebounds.

Texas Tech football transfer edge rusher headed to the Big Ten

One of the players that Texas Tech football fans didn't want to see leave via that portal this offseason has landed with a Big Ten program. Isaac Smith, a 6-foot-6 junior from Wagoner, Oklahoma, has spent his entire college career in Lubbock, but that will change next season when he plays for Michigan State.

Smith has racked up 42 tackles and 3.5 sacks as a collegiate. He missed all of 2023 with an injury, though, and in 2024, he was not able to make a huge impact as he worked his way back. Last season, he was credited with 31 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Now, he'll get a fresh start with the Spartans.

Texas Tech baseball hosts nationally-ranked opponent

Finally, the dreadfully disappointing 2025 Texas Tech baseball season will continue to limp along this weekend when No. 16 Arizona comes to Lubbock. The Red Raiders are riding a modest two-game winning streak after taking the series finale at Arizona State on Sunday and a road game at Abilene Christian on Monday.

In the 9-2 win over the Wildcats in their last contest, the Red Raiders jumped out to a 9-0 lead by the middle of the fifth, thanks in part to a pair of RBIs from both Kyeler Thompson and Logan Hughes. On the mound, starting pitcher Connor Mohan picked up the win by tossing six complete innings, giving up only two runs on five hits while striking out five and walking one.

Now, the Red Raiders turn their attention to the nationally-ranked Arizona Wildcats, who come to town with a record of 29-11 overall and 12-6 in the Big 12. They have won six of their last seven games.

Friday's contest starts at 6:30 p.m. Central with Saturday's set for 2 p.m. Sunday, the series wraps up at 12:30 p.m. All games can be seen on ESPN+.