Texas Tech Softball Opens 2012 Season in Tempe, AZ on Thursday

The Texas Tech Red Raider Softball team looks to make the next step under third year coach Shannon Hays which finished 42-16 last season and made its second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Regional Finals losing to Arizona in 2011.

The Red Raiders will take on two teams ranked in the Top 10 during the three day Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, AZ with No. 9 Tennessee, No. 10 Stanford, Northwestern, Cal Poly, and San Diego State.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE- all times Central

Thurs., Feb. 9

Texas Tech vs. San Diego State - 4 p.m.

Fri., Feb. 10

Texas Tech vs. Northwestern - 12:30 p.m.

Texas Tech vs. No. 9 Tennessee - 8 p.m.

Sat., Feb. 11

Texas Tech vs. No. 10 Stanford - Noon

Texas Tech vs. Cal Poly - 9:30 p.m.

Shanon Hays enters the 2012 season with 194 wins as he approaches the 200 win milestone for his career which began in 2008 at Lubbock Christian University where he won the 2008 NAIA National Title in the programs first season of competition. Hays 194-50 entering his fifth overall season with 80 wins the past two seasons at Texas Tech.

Texas Tech opens the season in Lubbock hosting the Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic March 2nd after three weeks of road competition.