University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, February 23
Denton, TX
2:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Texas Tech
Players Mentioned
Photo by: CONNOR CUNNINGHAM
Gophers Travel to Lone Star State for Five Games
2/22/2024 9:41:00 AM | Softball
Minnesota will compete against Texas Tech, North Texas, SFA, and New Mexico
GAME ONE
Minnesota (4-3, 0-0 B1G) vs Texas Tech (7-3, 0-0 Big 12)
Date:Â Friday, Feb. 23
Time:Â 2 p.m. CT
GAME TWO
Minnesota (4-3, 0-0 B1G) vs North Texas (3-5, 0-0 AAC)Â
Date:Â Friday, Feb. 23
Time: 7 p.m. CT
GAME THREE
Minnesota (4-3, 0-0 B1G) vs Texas Tech (7-3, 0-0 Big 12)Â
Date:Â Saturday, Feb. 24
Time:Â 11:30 a.m. CT
GAME FOUR
Minnesota (4-3, 0-0 B1G) vs SFA (2-8, 0-0 WAC)Â
Date:Â Saturday, Feb. 24
Time:Â 2 p.m. CT
GAME FIVE
Minnesota  (4-3, 0-0 B1G) vs New Mexico (3-9, 0-0 MW)
Date:Â Sunday, Feb. 25
Time: 9Â a.m. CT
Tracking the Red Raiders
7-3 to start the season, the Red Raiders are on the cusp of being ranked in the top 25 for the second week in-a-row. Notably, Texas Tech fell to No. 4 Florida State over opening weekend by one run. The Red Raiders led until the bottom of the seventh, when the top-ranked Seminoles pushed two runs past to take the win. Prior to suffering a loss against Texas State, Texas Tech was on a five game win streak. The Golden Gophers and Red Raiders have only competed against each other four times, with the series record at 2-2. The last time the two teams matched up, Minnesota won 7-4 back in 2016. Â
Tracking the Mean Green
The hosts of this weekend's tournament head into the weekend 3-5. The Mean Green have picked off wins over South Dakota State, Lipscomb, and Utah Tech. Their losses have come against a range of ranked opponents. North Texas was selected to finish third in the AAC standings, marking the third-straight year the Mean Green have been picked to finish in the top three. This will be the first meeting between the Gophers and Mean Green.
Tracking the Lumberjacks
The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks picked up their second win of the season over Sam Houston State on Tuesday evening in Nacogdoches, Texas. SFA began their much anticipated season under newly hired Head Coach Jeff Jackson, who was previously at Odessa College. Returning this season is the pitching duo of Brooke Gainus and Alexis Telford, who both threw over 100 innings last season. Gainous, who was named to the Preseason All-WAC Team, compiled a 14-10 record last season while sporting a solid 3.25 ERA. Telford was equally dominant in the circle for SFA last season as she wrapped up last season with a 10-9 record, pitching to the tune of a 3.30 ERA.
Tracking the Lobos
The New Mexico Lobos are 3-9 to start the season. Their three wins have come over Tennessee State and Marist. New Mexico shortstop Rachael Hathoot was selected to the All-Mountain West Preseason Team. She was one of 12 position players handed the honor. Hathoot ended 2023 hitting .414 with a .643 slugging percentage and a .468 on-base percentage in 22 Mountain West games. Against conference opponents, Hathoot recorded 29 hits, which included five doubles, four triples and a home run for 45 total bases and accounted for 19 runs and 13 RBI.
Lone Star StatersÂ
Minnesota's roster features two native Texans in Addison Leschber and Tara Wolocko. Leschber, a sophomore from Thrall, Texas, has started all but one game this season. Wolocko, a freshman from Kingwood, Texas, has yet to make her Golden Gopher debut.Â
First of Many
Graduate transfer, Morgan DeBord, hit her first home run donning the Maroon and Gold last weekend at the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational. DeBord hit the three RBI homer in the sixth to take a four run lead over the Yellow Jackets.Â
A Win to Remember
Minnesota's win over Georgia Tech marked Piper Ritter's 100th win as Head Coach. She is the fourth coach in Minnesota's history to reach 100 wins. Under her guidance, the Golden Gophers have earned four consecutive postseason bids and a third place finish in the Big Ten last season.
Minnesota (4-3, 0-0 B1G) vs Texas Tech (7-3, 0-0 Big 12)
Date:Â Friday, Feb. 23
Time:Â 2 p.m. CT
GAME TWO
Minnesota (4-3, 0-0 B1G) vs North Texas (3-5, 0-0 AAC)Â
Date:Â Friday, Feb. 23
Time: 7 p.m. CT
GAME THREE
Minnesota (4-3, 0-0 B1G) vs Texas Tech (7-3, 0-0 Big 12)Â
Date:Â Saturday, Feb. 24
Time:Â 11:30 a.m. CT
GAME FOUR
Minnesota (4-3, 0-0 B1G) vs SFA (2-8, 0-0 WAC)Â
Date:Â Saturday, Feb. 24
Time:Â 2 p.m. CT
GAME FIVE
Minnesota  (4-3, 0-0 B1G) vs New Mexico (3-9, 0-0 MW)
Date:Â Sunday, Feb. 25
Time: 9Â a.m. CT
Tracking the Red Raiders
7-3 to start the season, the Red Raiders are on the cusp of being ranked in the top 25 for the second week in-a-row. Notably, Texas Tech fell to No. 4 Florida State over opening weekend by one run. The Red Raiders led until the bottom of the seventh, when the top-ranked Seminoles pushed two runs past to take the win. Prior to suffering a loss against Texas State, Texas Tech was on a five game win streak. The Golden Gophers and Red Raiders have only competed against each other four times, with the series record at 2-2. The last time the two teams matched up, Minnesota won 7-4 back in 2016. Â
Tracking the Mean Green
The hosts of this weekend's tournament head into the weekend 3-5. The Mean Green have picked off wins over South Dakota State, Lipscomb, and Utah Tech. Their losses have come against a range of ranked opponents. North Texas was selected to finish third in the AAC standings, marking the third-straight year the Mean Green have been picked to finish in the top three. This will be the first meeting between the Gophers and Mean Green.
Tracking the Lumberjacks
The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks picked up their second win of the season over Sam Houston State on Tuesday evening in Nacogdoches, Texas. SFA began their much anticipated season under newly hired Head Coach Jeff Jackson, who was previously at Odessa College. Returning this season is the pitching duo of Brooke Gainus and Alexis Telford, who both threw over 100 innings last season. Gainous, who was named to the Preseason All-WAC Team, compiled a 14-10 record last season while sporting a solid 3.25 ERA. Telford was equally dominant in the circle for SFA last season as she wrapped up last season with a 10-9 record, pitching to the tune of a 3.30 ERA.
Tracking the Lobos
The New Mexico Lobos are 3-9 to start the season. Their three wins have come over Tennessee State and Marist. New Mexico shortstop Rachael Hathoot was selected to the All-Mountain West Preseason Team. She was one of 12 position players handed the honor. Hathoot ended 2023 hitting .414 with a .643 slugging percentage and a .468 on-base percentage in 22 Mountain West games. Against conference opponents, Hathoot recorded 29 hits, which included five doubles, four triples and a home run for 45 total bases and accounted for 19 runs and 13 RBI.
Lone Star StatersÂ
Minnesota's roster features two native Texans in Addison Leschber and Tara Wolocko. Leschber, a sophomore from Thrall, Texas, has started all but one game this season. Wolocko, a freshman from Kingwood, Texas, has yet to make her Golden Gopher debut.Â
First of Many
Graduate transfer, Morgan DeBord, hit her first home run donning the Maroon and Gold last weekend at the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational. DeBord hit the three RBI homer in the sixth to take a four run lead over the Yellow Jackets.Â
A Win to Remember
Minnesota's win over Georgia Tech marked Piper Ritter's 100th win as Head Coach. She is the fourth coach in Minnesota's history to reach 100 wins. Under her guidance, the Golden Gophers have earned four consecutive postseason bids and a third place finish in the Big Ten last season.
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