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THURSDAY, FEB. 17, 2022 VOLUME 96 ISSUE 21

Road to Postseason

Starts Now Looking Ahead The Red Raiders look to continue their season on a high note after a single loss this season.

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Family Tradition Jace Jung will start the 2022 season with the guidance of his older brother Josh Jung.

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Building Legacies Tim Tadlock and Sami Ward enter the season with experience as Red Raiders.

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Online Check out our website for ticket information and other things you need to know for the upcoming seasons.

GRAPHIC BY CARLOS GONZALEZ

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BASEBALL/SOFTBALL PREVIEW

FEB. 17, 2022

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NON-CONFERENCE

Tech baseball ready for redemption tour

By CHRIS WILLIAMS Sports Reporter

With Texas Tech’s baseball team’s opening game quickly approaching, the season-ending loss to Stanford in the Lubbock Super Regionals stings for the Red Raiders just as much as it did back in June.

“I still got a bad taste in my mouth, if we’re being honest,” senior utility player Wilson said, who started 31 games for the Red Raiders last season.

“When you see somebody dance on your field and go to Omaha, I thought about it all fall and all spring and now we got another shot to go at it and get back there.”

Leading the Red Raiders is head coach Tim Tadlock, who is entering his tenth season at the helm of Tech’s baseball program. The program has made four College World Series appearances under his leadership, ac-

cording to Tech Athletics.

A Tech baseball alumnus, Tadlock signed a “lifetime contract” with the program in May to remain in his current position.

Tech finished with a 1410 record in Big 12 play last season, and the conference is expected to be just as competitive in 2022, with four programs listed in D1 Baseball’s preseason top 25.

The University of Texas claimed the top spot in the preseason poll, while No. 7 Oklahoma State University ranks ahead of the No. 14 Red Raiders and No. 17 Texas Christian University comes in three spots behind Tech.

How the team prepares before conference season, Tadlock said, will play a large part in its success in what he called “the premier baseball league in the country.”

“You want to be playing the highest level of baseball you can each day, and once you get in the league, hope-

fully you’ve been doing that,” Tadlock said. “But you’ve got to have that competition.”

The Red Raiders lost plenty of experience this offseason, with nine players being selected in the MLB Draft, according to Tech Athletics. Among those drafted were key infielders Cal Conley and Dru Baker.

The duo ranked near the top of the roster in many offensive categories, most notably Conley who led the team in batting average with .343.

The Red Raiders will look for contributions from the transfer class that features five players with junior college experience, according to Tech Athletics.

Among these is junior Zac Voolitech, who transferred to Tech from Navarro College in Corsicana. Voolitech ended his lone season as a Bulldog with a .349 batting average and 27 stolen bases, according to Navarro Athletics.

OLIVIA RAYMOND/The Daily Toreador

Super-senior utility players Kurt Wilson (left) and Easton Murrell (right) pose for the camera during a practice before the beginning of the 2022 season. Wilson is in his fifth season with the Red Raiders, while Murrel is in his fourth after spending his freshman season at the University of Arkansas.

According to Tech Athletics, junior Cole Stilwell posted a .288 batting average last season. He said Tech’s culture has made it easy for incoming players to fit in.

When you see someone dance on your field and go to Omaha, I thought about it all fall and all spring and now we got another shot to go at it and get back there.”

KURT WILSON SENIOR UTILITY PLAYER

“When you get recruited to come and play here, it’s a winning culture and you got recruited here to come and win,” Stilwell said.

Stilwell started 41 games last season as a catcher and infielder and his above batting percentage was good enough for fourth on the team, after hitting .345 during his second season, according to Tech Athletics.

“I think if I get put back there, I can manage the game well and be a leader behind the plate or wherever my team needs me to play that day,” Stilwell said. ”I think I can be a leader from wherever.”

Sophomore second baseman Jace Jung is also returning to Lubbock after leading the team in home runs, OPS and RBIs as a second-year freshman, earning Big 12 Player of the Year honors in the process, according to Tech Athletics.

Jung’s production last season earned recognition

OLIVIA RAYMOND/The Daily Toreador

Super-senior Cooper Swanson, in his first season at Tech after four years at Florida State University, rounds the bases after a hit. from major college baseball publications, such as College Baseball Newspaper and Baseball America, both of which named him a preseason first team AllAmerican. According to Tech Athletics, Jung was also voted Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.

Tech’s pitching staff is a question mark, facing more turnover than previous seasons. Of the 28 pitchers listed on last season’s roster, only 11 are back in Lubbock for 2022, according to Tech Athletics.

Brandon Birdsell, a junior pitcher who started seven games for Tech last season, elected to return for his second year in Lubbock after being selected in the 11th round by the Minnesota Twins. The righthander went 4-1 over seven starts last season, according to Tech Athletics.

Tadlock said he expects multiple freshmen to make

impacts this season, including outfielders Owen Washburn and Ryan Brome and catcher Hudson White.

“Seems like to me, those three guys you kind of know what you’re getting with them day in and day out,” Tadlock said. “We’re really excited about that whole group of freshmen.”

The Red Raiders begin their season Friday, Feb. 18 against Michigan as part of the State Farm Baseball Showdown. The team will play three Power Five programs over the course of the weekend, finishing with No. 15 Arizona on Sunday.

Tadlock said he isn’t concerned about Tech’s upcoming opponents in Arlington.

“I mean, it’s a baseball game,” Tadlock said. “I don’t know if we put too much thought into who’s on the other side other than going out and playing the game the right way.” @ChrisWilliamsDT

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BASEBALL/SOFTBALL PREVIEW

FEB. 17, 202

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Dressing trendy for baseball, softball seasons

By TANA THOMPSON L a Vida Editor

As the semester continues, spring sports begin, which in Texas means students will attend outdoor games in different types of weather.

In the fall semester, students were seen in different fashion trends at sporting events.

With softball and baseball seasons underway, students are thinking about what they will wear when they attend those games.

Leah Crites, a first-year fashion merchandising student from Dallas, said fashion trends have a greater diversity today than they did five years ago.

“It is constantly expanding, always depending on what is currently trending. The fashion we wear today all come from the current pop culture. The trends start to arise when a celebrity is seen wearing something or an athlete or even an actor in a movie,” Crites said. “It's all based on what is seen on social media. Fashion is such a fun way for someone to have some self expression, from just going to class to even game days.”

Kailee Walters, a fourthyear public relations student from Prosper, said

she is minoring in retail management, and after experiencing baseball and softball seasons in previous years she has noticed the fashion trends.

“I think people have always had really cute outfits during games,” Walters said. “Obviously, the weather's always off and on. But definitely like shorts or like the Nike sneakers or people are doing like those tennis skirts and then they're doing like tank tops. Lululemon is really popular and trendy, and Golden Gooses are a big thing. Now girls are wearing that with their athletic wear.”

Often, young women go all out with their outfits on game days, Walters said.

“You also have just the girls that are wearing their fun jeans but the holes and then you know they have sneakers on or their booties and they have all their jerseys representing the players on the team,” Walters said. “I know girls are now, like, you know, going all out with, you know, if they are wearing red lipstick or their pink lipstick or just like fun stuff to match their outfits, and then I would also say people do this, like, Tech skirts that have the Tech emblem on it.”

Natalie Clark, the HiTech Fashion group presi-

TEA MCGILVRAY/The Daily Toreador

dent, said game days outfits often depend on the weather and the time of the game.

“I say baseball and softball because they usually end up being during the windy season. It's al-

Black History at Texas Tech Thompson shoots for success

Editor’s Note: In celebration of Black History Month, The Daily Toreador will highlight a notable local person or event in each week’s print edition.

Carolyn Thompson, a Tech alumnus and former Lady Raider athlete, was the first woman and Black person to be inducted into the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame in 2014.

According to Double T Varsity Club, Thompson was accepted to Texas Tech as a volleyball player, but her plans soon changed when she was spotted playing a pick up game at the rec center by the coaches. She played with the women’s basketball

1980-1984. She 2,655 career points, making her the record holder at Tech for career points for both men’s and women’s basketball to this day.

According to the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame, she was the first female athlete to be nominated MVP four consecutive years, setting 18 school records, including field goals made team for four seasons from accumulated

(1,013), field goal attempts (1,944) and rebounds (1,247). In 1985, Thompson was the first Lady Raider to have her jersey, #44, retired.

A t age 22, T hompson decided to go into coaching and became the head coach at Lubbock’s Estacado High School where she coached until 1993, according to the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame.

Today, Thompson works in education administration. Tech celebrates her name in the Ring Of Honor outside the United Supermarkets Arena alongside other influential athletes and coaches

Marsha Sharp, Sheryl Swoopes, Rick Bullock, Jim Reed, Dub Malaise and Andre Emmett such as

ways good to have a little windbreaker on,” Clark, a fourth-year apparel design and manufacturing student from Frisco, said. “Like, what's really trendy is the vintage windbreakers you can get it restored or on

eBay or resale.”

Sometimes baseball and softball games fall at midday, so Clark said students wear what they had on when they attended classes.

“It Is very comfy and casual. And I would say the same for basketball too. It's a lot more casual,” Clark said. “Sometimes I like a cute jacket to a basketball game and like to accessorize a little bit, but I'd say baseball's very casual.

Football is basically like a fashion show. It's fun to see all the fun outfits people get from boutiques.”

Trends are often developed through people starting to wear something and everyone picking up on it and replicating it, Walters said.

After attending games, Walters said she has seen so many different trends and sees the way they develop.

“So, I've seen a lot of girls who wear the Tech, the Double T, like, tons of jerseys and shirts and you know the crop tops with the leggings and again sneakers always be popular, like, Adidas and Nikes,” Walters said. “You know, the Jordans. That's really what girls have been wearing lately with it.”

Some women are dating players on the baseball

team, and Walters said there are cute trends to support the players.

“If you have a player on the team you're dating or talking to you can wear their denim jackets with their names engraved on them or their jerseys or their numbers on your hat or again, your shirt, your jackets, all that fun stuff,” Walters said. “I really just feel like it's getting one trend out there and one follows it and people mix these trends together.”

Crites said some game day fashion trends will never die and are highly suggested because of the sun at game times.

Crites and Clark said they suggest a baseball cap or a pair of sunglasses as an accessory.

“One of the biggest fan fashions for baseball or softball is the classic baseball hat. It is one fashion style that sets apart from other sports like football or basketball,” Crites said.

“Baseball hats aren't always just a game day attire, it is also a daily accessory that many people like to wear. So for this upcoming season you can expect the baseball hats to have a high number of people wearing them.” @TanaThompsonDT

Associated Press

Avocados face fallout

MEXICO CITY (AP) — With clever Super Bowl ads, an irresistible fruit and apparently insatiable appetite from U.S. consumers, Mexico’s avocado producers have so far been able to separate avocados from the conflictive landscape that produces them — at least until a threat to a U.S. agricultural inspector essentially shut down their exports last week.

But as producers continue to suffer extortion from organized crime, and loggers continue to chop down pine forests to clear land for avocado orchards, another threat looms: Campaigns for greener competition and perhaps even a boycott.

Most advocates for more sustainable avocados stop short of calling for an outright boycott.

“They (avocados) are a very large portion of either their country or regional economy and, you know,

banning them entirely would not be advantageous” for already struggling local

farmers, said Gareth Elliott, a New Jersey restaurant manager.

Page 4 Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022

EDITORIAL

OPINIONS

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A&M pushes to end print product

On Feb. 11, an act against freedom of speech occurred in College Station. According to an article from The Battalion O n l i n e , Te x a s A & M ’ s President Katherine Banks said the 123-year-old paper had to stop print production immediately because The Battalion needed to leave print behind and focus its efforts only on digital production.

With no input from anyone working at The Battalion, Texas A&M leadership gave

the editorial board at The Battalion no time to adjust to their executive ruling on ceasing all print production.

What many don’t see is the freedom we at a student publication have with regard to the content. With little to no prior restraint in many student-run newsrooms, students have the final say in what is being published.

This responsibility is a heavyweight on one’s shoulder and it’s something we don’t take lightly. We as

journalists produce material because we want to keep our audience informed while capturing the stories many do not know about. Banks restricted the editorial board and staff ’s ability to do so in its print product.

In our own newsroom, every Wednesday night The Daily Toreador’s editorial board plans and produces a print product we are proud of.

We know and understand the work put into The Battalion’s printed publication and for

Banks to diminish the effort the staff and editorial board put into it is unfair and unjust.

According to a Texas A&M news release, Banks said because of the reaction from her initial plan of removal, she has added two Battalion student employees to a group working to rebuild the journalism program.

Though we love to hear a major institution wants to revive journalism as

a degree plan, it is not enough. Across the nation, student publications are the backbone of keeping universities and them accountable. We do our due diligence to seek the truth and report it.

Protecting journalists’ rights and acknowledging the efforts students invest in their student-run publication is the first step in the long road.

S p e c i f i c a l l y, s t u d e n t newspapers have opened

many doors for journalists and allow them to have tangible content to use once they leave the student-run newsroom. The experiences a journalist gets from working with the freedoms we have are like no other.

Local journalism matters.

Print is not dead. We stand with The Battalion.

The Daily Toreador Editorial Board @DailyToreador

COLUMN

Women athletes deserve same support as men

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SYDNEY BANOVIC/The Daily Toreador

On Feb. 2, Tech men’s basketball played against the University of Austin at the United Supermarkets Arena. The arena reached an attendance record of 15,300.

On Feb. 9, women’s basketball played against the University of Austin at the United Supermarkets Arena. The team is playing the same university as mens, and the crowd looks to be smaller.

When the stands fill up at a basketball game, the crowd is rowdy, loud and excited to be there. Often, at mens games, the stands fill up to capacity. However, women’s games are a completely different story.

Texas Tech students are more attracted to watching a men’s basketball game than they are to a women’s, which is absurd. Being a young

women’s coach the way we did Beard, students would have never put in the same amount of effort because they all think, who wants to attend a women’s game?

T h e w o m e n ’ s Te c h basketball team is 9-14 this season, and I believe this is because of their lack of support. They know they do not have a fan base, and they know another loss will not affect anyone but themselves.

It is hard to work so hard for what you want yet lack support from your peers.

In high school, as an athlete it always flabbergasted me when no one would be at our basketball games, yet the stands would be packed when the boys played. It is not that women are unathletic or boring to watch, the student body simply just does not care.

Truthfully, the lack of fans in the stands was hurtful to me. Parents wouldn’t come, the boy’s team would sit in the locker room until they began to warm up and even other players would not pay attention on the bench.

However, we were putting in just as many practice hours, if not more, than the men’s team. We may not have been

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woman myself, I have grown up surrounded by equality talk.

I have always been told how men are paid more, more likely to be hired and receive more support in many different aspects of life. Whether it is the workplace, education or sporting events, women are not equal to men, and they truly never have been. Men are preferred for jobs, yet I have never really understood why. Women deserve equal pay, opportunities, rights and recognition that men already receive.

Women work just as hard as men do when it comes to playing basketball, and they deserve the same support.

Practices, games and overall effort is the same for women as it is for men. They practice every day of the week, travel for games and handle their classes as a student athlete.

Being a student athlete comes with a crazy amount of stress. Those students have to learn how to manage their busy schedule with classes, social life and their sport. If they are working the same amount and doing the exact same things, each

Tana Thompson is a first-year journalism major from Albany.

gender should receive the same support.

I have been a witness to this action. When the men’s basketball team played the University of Texas, students camped out for three nights in hopes of getting a good seat. The student section was packed full, and the record for how many people in the United Supermarkets Arena was broken.

H o w e v e r, w h e n t h e women’s Tech basketball team played Texas, not nearly as many students showed up.

The stands were not near as full and the atmosphere was not near as loud, despite the fact that it was the same two teams playing each other.

Students may blame this on the fact that everyone wanted front row seats to see former coach Chris Beard in the USA again, but it truly goes so much deeper than that. Even if the roles were reversed and we lost a

as athletically inclined, but we worked so hard for every win we received.

The Texas Tech High Riders have the right idea.

The High Riders are a spirit organization that was created to support women’s athletics. They attend games, ring the victory bells and cheer at every game, just like the Saddle Tramps.

The stands were not near as full and the atmosphere was not near as loud, despite the fact that it was the same two teams playing each other.”

If the entire student body acted the way the High Riders do, women’s athletics would have support.

However, people support w o m e n ’s a t h l e t i c s l i k e volleyball, cheer and tennis.

If a sport is specifically made for women to play, people will attend and watch. If there is an opportunity for students to watch men playing a sport

over women playing a sport, students will choose men.

Students believe that men are more athletic, stronger and faster, which makes them more enjoyable to watch perform.

Honestly, the discrimination in sports goes far beyond just the support system they receive. According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, colleges only spend 24 percent of their athletic budget on female athletics, as well as only 33 percent of scholarship budgets. I truly cannot say why that is, but colleges are mistreating women in athletics.

In the NBA, the average salary in 2021 was $7 million, whereas in the WNBA, the average salary was only $80,000. Women suffer during sports when it comes to finances and support. They are in the exact same profession, but are receiving different pay.

Women should receive the same funding, fans and overall support as men do when it comes to athletics. The Tech student body should begin to attend women’s games and be just as rowdy as they are at the men’s. @TanaThompsonDT

COLUMN

Halftime performance showcases Black culture While football lovers tune in to witness the Super Bowl, many other viewers tune in for a different reason, the halftime show.

The tradition of halftime shows started in 1967, with the University of Arizona Symphonic Marching Band as the headliner. However, it wasn’t until 1993 when Michael Jackson delivered a show-stopping performance that solidified the halftime show’s performances as a fan favorite.

Moving focus from sports, the Super Bowl has become a media frenzy for entertainment and pop culture impact.

Cementing itself in entertainment history, the halftime show has become famous for its many iconic performances and showstopping antics. From Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake’s controversial ‘Nipplegate’ performance to Beyoncé’s Black Panther

LETTERS The Daily Toreador welcomes letters from readers. Letters must be no longer than 300 words and must include the author’s name,

Julianne Cervera is a third-year English major from Grand Prairie.

performers, artists do not shy away from giving meaningful and exciting halftime shows.

This year ’s show saw iconic hip-hop legends Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent and Kendrick Lamar deliver an outstanding halftime show.

Performing their top hits and providing a nostalgic-filled performance, the halftime show also executed social commentary surrounding the impact Black culture and social justice.

During the show, the artists conveyed themes of police brutality and Black Lives Matter, in instances such as rapper Eminem taking a knee for the

signature, phone number, student ID number and a description of university affiliation. Students should include year in school, major and hometown. We reserve the right to edit letters. Anonymous letters will not be accepted for publication. All letters will be verified before they are published. Letters can be emailed to dailytoreador@ ttu.edu or brought to 180 Media and Communication. Letters should be sent in before 3 p.m. to ensure the editors have enough time to verify and edit the submission.

movement, a controversial move within NFL’s history against peaceful protest.

F u r t h e r m o r e , D r. D r e included the line “Still not loving police,” a statement that speaks on the police brutality that plagues Black communities.

Singer Mary J. Blige’s solo performance stood out by showing a powerful Black woman in her own glory, a concept that is still challenged by racism and misogyny today.

During Black History Month, the cultural impact of these performances expose the racial controversies and history of protest in NFL history. These performances c o n t r a d i c t t h e N F L’ s continuous actions to silence protests, such as former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling in protest in 2016 and the censorship of political and social commentary.

The legacy of football in

the U.S. helped create sports culture, a prominent aspect of American identity.

H o w e v e r, t h e s e performances showed the importance of Black culture and its roots in American identity. Without Black culture, there would be no American culture.

Hip-hop culture constantly finds itself under scrutiny for explicit content; however, hip-hop culture has built American pop-culture, with the latter finding influence from many hip-hop artists and songs.

Halftime shows such as Beyoncé’s BLM themed performance and this year’s show gives voices to Black performers in speaking out against America’s racism and disregard for Black lives.

Moreover, this year ’s halftime show worked to provoke social and racial justice, a fight that is still ongoing for many today.

The significance in

GUEST COLUMNS The Daily Toreador accepts submissions of unsolicited guest columns. While we cannot acknowledge receipt of all columns, the authors of those selected for publication will be notified. Guest columns should be no longer than 650 words in length and on a topic of relevance to the university community. Guest columns are also edited and follow the same guidelines for letters as far as identification and submittal.

these performances display the message of change still needed in times of racial tension. Although movements like BLM have worked to fight against violence against Black people, there are still acts of brutality and institutionalized racism that hurt communities today.

The Super Bowl halftime shows have become a tradition within NFL history, working to deliver entertaining performances by artists. However, the show has found a new purpose in creating an impact amongst viewers.

T h i s y e a r ’s h a l f t i m e show conveyed the beauty of Black culture and the need for justice in Black communities. Through the performances and messages from the artists, it was one to remember. @JulesCerveraDT

EDITORIALS Unsigned editorials appearing on this page represent the opinion of The DailyToreador. All other columns, letters and artwork represent the opinions of their authors and are not necessarily representative of the editorial board, Texas Tech University, its employees, its student body or the Board of Regents. The DailyToreador is independent of the College of Media and Communication. Responsibility for the editorial content of the newspaper lies with the student editors.

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BASEBALL/SOFTBALL PREVIEW

FEB. 17, 2022

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Tadlock, Ward lead programs on the rise

By BISHOP VAN BUREN Sports Editor

Texas Tech’s softball and baseball teams’ 2022 seasons will be officially underway this weekend.

The softball team looks to improve on a 3-1 start with a strong showing at the St. Pete Clearwater Elite Invitational from Feb. 17-20.

Meanwhile, the baseball season kicks off with the State Farm College Baseball Showdown from Friday, Feb. 18 through Sunday, Feb. 20, where the Red Raiders will play the University of Michigan, Auburn University and the University of Arizona.

Tim Tadlock is entering his 10th season as the head baseball coach of his alma mater. The two-time National Coach of the Year has led Tech to four College World Series appearances and coached 59 Red Raiders into MLB Draft Picks, according to Tech Athletics.

Head softball coach Sami Ward just finished her first full-length offseason with the Red Raiders after leaving her alma mater, Loyola Marymount, in October before the 2021 season.

“I just think we have more experience going into this year than we had previously. I mean, we got hired really late in the game and things are moving pretty quickly,” Ward said. “But we’ve just been able to create relationships and get to know each other.”

After five years at Loyola Marymount that included being named the We s t C o a s t C o n f e r e n c e Coach of the Year following the 2016, 2018 and 2019 seasons, Ward led the Red Raiders to a 21-26 overall record in her first season at Tech.

Ward’s first season finished by going 2-1 at the Big 12 Championship, defeating No. 10 Texas in the third place game.

Over the offseason, Tech added 13 newcomers including seven freshmen and six transfers. Half of Tech’s incoming transfers came from Loyola-Marymount, where they played under Ward in 2020.

“From the outside in, that’s what people see right away,” Ward said of the abundance of new faces.

“But since we’ve had the whole Fall together and stuff we don’t see it that way. We’re Texas Tech soft-

ball. It’s not a separation of transfers, newcomers and returners. This is us.”

The Red Raiders have fewer players returning from last season (11) than they do newcomers, but Ward said those returners share the same goal.

“Everyone that returned to the program, they all brought into the fact that they wanna build this thing and build a real foundation and work together,” Ward said. “We want to do this thing the right way. We want to win championships but we want to build it so it’s sustainable.”

According to Tech Athletics, Tadlock has led the Red Raiders to three Big 12 titles. The first came in 2016, when Tadlock was named Big 12 Coach of the Year, and then Tech repeated as conference champions

It’s not a separation of transfers, newcomers and returners. This is us.”

SAMI WARD HEAD SOFTBALL COACH the following two seasons.

Last season, Tech’s opening weekend consisted of playing (and losing to) three teams ranked in the top10 in the College Baseball Showdown. The Red Raiders then won 14 in a row and finished 39-17, earning a No. 8 national seed in the NCAA tournament.

Tech hosted a regional for the fifth-straight year in 2021 and advanced to host a Super Regional for the third time in the last five seasons. Tech lost in the Super Regional to Stanford University, ending a 4-0 win streak in such series previously, according to Tech Athletics.

Ta d l o c k h a s c o a c h e d Tech’s baseball team for nine seasons — posting a 336-165 record in that time — and received a lifetime contract after the 2021 season, according to Tech’s director of athletics Kirby Hocutt’s Twitter.

On Jan. 20 it was announced that 2022 season tickets sold out for the eighth-consecutive season with more than 2,750 season tickets already having been sold, according to Tech Athletics.

Noting the support Tech’s basketball team has received from the Red Raid-

er fanbase, Tadlock said he’s eager to see it root on his team.

“We absolutely welcome all that support over here at Rip Griffin Park,” Tadlock said. “We love to see ‘em and our guys love to play in front of ‘em.”

Aside from a lifetime contract, Tadlock has received help from Hocutt and Tech’s President Lawrence Schovanec in other ways, including a team facility expansion at Rip Griffin Park as part of the Campaign for Fearless Champions.

“Everyone that’s come through the program deserves everything they’re g e t t i n g , ” Ta d l o c k s a i d .

“We’re very appreciative of the support we get. Kirby and Dr. Schovanec do a great job of giving us support to have success and that shows in that facility.”

Tadlock was a two-year starting shortstop for the Red Raiders and played for Tech in it’s first 40-win season in 1991, according to Tech Athletics.

Ward was a pitcher and utility player when she played for her alma mater LMU, where she still ranks in the top 10 in hits (192), home runs (29), pitching appearances (110), wins (42) and complete games (30).

Ward and Tadlock’s playing and coaching careers may have been different, but their dedication to the game led them both to head coaching positions wearing scarlet and black. @BishopVB_DT

OLIVIA RAYMOND/The Daily Toreador

PHOTO COURTESY OF JEREMY O’BRIEN/Texas Tech Athletics

Head baseball coach Tim Tadlock (TOP) setting up to pitch balls to his infielders during practice at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park. Head softball coach Sami Ward (BOTTOM) hits a ball to her team during a pre-season practice on Feb. 24, 2021.

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BASEBALL/SOFTBALL PREVIEW

FEB. 17, 2022

WWW.DAILYTOREADOR.COM

Tech softball gears up for upcoming season

By JONATHAN KATH Sports Reporter

The Texas Tech softball team began its 2022 season with games against the University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of Houston on Feb. 11- Feb. 13 at the Houston Invitational.

The Red Raiders are looking to improve from a season ago where they won three Big 12 games and had an overall record of 21-26.

So far they sit at 3-1, with it the one loss coming to UH on Sunday.

“I just think we have more experience going into this year than we had previously,” head softball coach Sami Ward said. “I mean, we got hired really late in the game and things are moving pretty quickly. But we’ve just been able to create relationships and get to know each other.”

A full length offseason was the only chance from 2020 to 2021, as the Red Raiders added a flock of transfers ahead of this season that include a pair of pitchers junior Kendall Fritz and sophomore Olivia Rains.

Fritz, formerly at the University of Nevada, made 29 appearances, throwing 132 innings and 15 complete games in her time as a Cornhusker.

In those 29 appearances, she won 11 games while hurling 115 strikeouts with a 3.12 ERA, according to Tech Athletics.

“I think my biggest thing is I’m very competitive,” Fritz said when talking about her strengths on the diamond. “I think my mental side of the game is very strong, even if I don’t have all my tools working for me, I think I’m always able to use what I have and

do the best that I can.”

Fritz started two games at the Houston Invitational, one against UTSA on Friday and the other against UH on Saturday, both of which were wins. She leads the team in strikeouts with nine while giving up two hits in her two wins in the

circle, according to Tech Athletics.

Sophomore Olivia Rains, who transferred from Oklahoma University, spoke about why she transferred to Tech.

“I wanted to go somewhere where I was wanted,” Rains said. “I wanted

OLIVIA RAYMOND /The Daily Toreador

Sophomore outfielder Carson Armijo makes a run for home during practice at Rocky Johnson Field on Feb. 8, 2022. This is Armijo’s first season as a Red Raider after she transferred from UCLA.

to go to a program with coaches that really believed and stuck behind their players, and honestly, Tech had both those things.”

According to Tech Athletics, Rains appeared in 17 games and finished with a 1.17 ERA while striking out 20 batters last year at OU. As of this year, Rains has made two appearances, one start and one relief.

In her start against UTSA, Rains struck out three and gave up three runs facing 12 batters. In her second appearance, she came in to relieve Hornback in the third inning after Hornback gave up three runs. Rains finished the game with a strikeout, four hits and no runs, according to Tech Athletics.

As for other transfers, junior infielder Riley Ehlen from Loyola Marymount hit .338 with two home runs and 17 RBIs last season at LMU, according to Tech Athletics. Ehlen came into game four against UH to pinch hit for junior Alanna Barraza, slapping a single into left field in her only plate appearance of the year.

Sophomore Carson Armjio, a transfer from UCLA, made one appearance for the Bruins her freshman season, according to Tech Athletics. In her four games at the Houston Invitational, she came away with a team high .417 batting average with two HRs and five RBIs. Senior outfielder Peyton

Blythe started in 45 games last year, batting .260 with three home runs and 7 RBIs, according to Tech Athletics. In Houston, she went 2-11 with two RBIs and a team high three runs.

Another returner, Junior Peyton Jackson, started eight games last year but came up clutch in the Big 12 tournament. Playing then #10 Texas, Jackson helped the Lady Raiders win their biggest game of the year, knocking in three RBIs in a 5-1 win, according

I wanted to go to a program with coaches that really believed in me and stuck behind their players.”

OLIVIA RAINS SOPHOMORE PITCHER to Tech Athletics Against UTSA and UH, Jackson went 2-11 hitting .182, tied for the worst on the team. However, she did have a home run against UTSA in the first game, batting in one of her two RBIs on the year.

“This group is so talented, and I don’t think a lot of people know what to expect from us.” Fritz said “I think we’re gonna surprise a lot of people this year. So I’m just excited to start playing.” jkath_DT

HOME STREAK STAYS ALIVE SHELBY FOSTER/ The Daily Toreador

Daniel Batcho, a freshman forward, shoots a layup over a Baylor defender and makes the shot on Feb. 16, 2022 in the United Supermarkets Arena.

T h e Re d R a i d e r s s t a y undefeated while at home with a 16-0 record.

No. 11 Tech defeated No.7 Baylor 83-73.

Check out our website for a full recap of the game and photos.

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FEB. 17, 2022

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Love, Villa prepare for softball season

By KAITLYN SALAZAR Sports Reporter

After holding a 21-26 record last season and winning only three conference games, Texas Tech’s softball team kicked off its 2022 season at the Houston Invitational on Feb. 11-13, going 3-1 by the end of the weekend.

Love and Arriana Villa who played key roles for the Red Raiders last season.

Love started 42 out of Tech’s 47 games at shortstop and committed only two errors all season, according to Tech Athletics. Villa ranked second on the team in RBI with 16, and fourth with a batting average of .235 and 24 hits.

OLIVIA RAYMOND /The Daily Toreador

Sophomore Arriana Villa makes a throw to tag out the runner at second base during practice on Feb. 8, 2022.

This year’s roster has 13 new faces and 11 returners, according to Texas Tech Athletics. Among the returners are sophomore infielders Riley

Both players were named to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team in 2021, according to Tech Athletics.

Love and Villa both started

all four games at the Houston Invitation. Love was hit by a pitch in her first at-bat of the season, but did not record a hit in eight more at-bats in the invitational.

Villa appeared at the plate 11 times and recorded two hits during the first game, one being a home run, according to Tech Athletics.

A unanimous pick for the freshman All-Big 12 award last season, Love said she has dreamed of an honor like this since she was a little girl.

“I remember as a little girl, my goal in life, when I was like 8 years old, was to start on a (Division 1) softball team,” Love said. “I remember when (Tech head coach Sami Ward) called me saying I made the Big 12 team, I was at a restaurant with my friends and I literally cried in the bathroom.

Eight-year-old me would look back and be like ‘no way.’”

The two athletes were recognized for their achievements in the classroom and named to the Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team, according to Tech Athletics.

Villa said this award came as a surprise to her because of her struggles with dyslexia.

“I have dyslexia, so when I saw that I was on the rookie team for that, I was probably more excited for that award than I was for the softball award,” Villa said. “Probably nobody saw that in me, other than probably my parents.

When I do graduate I’ll be my first family college graduate, and so that was something I was really excited for.”

In a recent interview, the players said being named recipients of both of these awards as freshmen has boosted their confidence going into the 2022 season. Love said this proves they can compete with anyone they may come across.

“I think it shows that, cause we come in as freshmen, sophomores and underclassmen, like, I think those two awards boost our confidence in showing, like, you know we can play at this level,” Love said. “We can play with all these girls and all these All-Americans, whoever they are, we’re there and we can play with them.”

OLIVIA RAYMOND /The Daily Toreador

Sophomore Riley Love tags her teammate out at third base during practice at Rocky Johnson Field on Feb. 8, 2022.

While Love and Villa exceed expectations on the field, head coach Sami Ward said the pair make great leaders off the field as well.

“I think both of them have really strong mentalities,” Ward said. “They are both extremely competitive, they have a growth mindset, they want to get better every single day and they want to work. They can have true four-year careers here, just kind of setting that standard for everyone and, you know, setting a lead and setting a pace for everyone else.”

With the start of their sophomore season having just begun, Villa said the team’s goals run deeper than winning a national championship.

“For the team, win a world series, win our conference, but also go out there and dominate ... ,” Villa said. “Just go out there, have fun and ball out.

I think this team is trying to find who we are, and I think once we start playing we’ll find that and get in that groove and hopefully we just ride it out.” @KaitSalazarDT

Jung looks to follow in older brother’s footsteps

By JUSTIN APODACA Sports Reporter

The reigning 2021 Big 12 Player of the Year, redshirt sophomore Jace Jung, was n a m e d t h e B i g 1 2 P r eseason Player of the Year on Jan. 26 by the nine Big 12 head coaches who voted in the poll, according to Tech Athletics.

The Red Raider standout was the only honoree on the Big 12 first team this season.

He has garnered preseason AllAmerica honors from D1Baseball and Baseball America among others, according to Tech Athletics.

After last season resulted in a consensus All-American selection for Jung, he most recently was named to the Golden Spikes Award Watch List, the only Big 12 player selected, according to Tech Athletics.

Head coach Tim Tadlock said Jung will provide stability to the lineup after his breakout season last year.

“Jace will be the first to tell you that what he accomplished last year doesn’t happen without the guys around him,” Tadlock said. “To know you have a real guy sitting there in the three or four hole is obviously, really, man it's nice.”

Jung’s brother, Josh, became the second Red Raider in program history to be drafted in the first round, according to Tech Athletics, . He was selected No. 8 overall by the Texas Rangers in the 2019 MLB Draft.

At a First Pitch Luncheon sponsored by the College Baseball Foundation on Jan. 26, Josh Jung said he has helped his brother understand the pressures that come at this point in his collegiate career.

“I can give him all the experience and knowledge that I have about going through this process, being a top prospect,

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going through what he’s about to go through,” Josh Jung said.

“From what I’ve seen, I was a lot more nervous at this stage than he was.”

Jace Jung is coming off his redshirt freshman season where he won the Big 12 Player of the Year award after leading the conference with 21 home runs and recording a 1.159 onbase plus slugging percentage, according to Tech Athletics.

With this season being Jace Jung’s third year in college, he will be eligible for the MLB Draft in July, according to MLB rules.

Jung is projected by Prospects Live, a baseball

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In this year’s MLB Draft the Texas Rangers hold the No. 3 overall pick. Josh Jung said that he has been talking to the Rangers’ scouting director to potentially draft his brother.

“Our scouting director, Kip Fagg, I’m in his ear all the time,” Josh Jung said.

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Josh Jung said he has told his younger brother to enjoy what could be his final season at Tech and to create strong bonds with his teammates.

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