March 23, 2007

And so it begins. The Missouri softball team will open Big 12 play Saturday, March 24, at 2 p.m. (CT) when they take on the Red Raiders of Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas, on Rocky Johnson Field. The two-game series, which wraps Sunday, March 25 at Noon, marks the second time since the formation of the league in 1997 that Missouri will open league compeition in Lubbock (the last time came in 2003) and sixth straight year in which the Tigers begin Big 12 play on the road.

The Tigers are 5-5 in Big 12 openers (5-3 against the South), most recently taking an 8-6 victory over Oklahoma in Norman last year.

Entering the contest, the Tigers own a higher batting average (.302) and fielding percentage (.960) than the Red Raiders, but have struggled with pitching and trail Texas Tech's team ERA of .273.

Currently, eight members of Missouri's squad own above a .300 batting average and the team has combined for the second highest mark in five seasons; second only to the 2005 campaign in which Missouri stood at .313 after 39 games. Unable to produce runs against Southern Illinois on Wednesday, Missouri looks to snap its two-game losing streak by earning valuable conference wins.

This season, four Big 12 schools are ranked among the top-20 in the nation, with Texas A&M and Oklahoma standing among the top five at second and third, respectively.

Texas Tech begin Big 12 action Thursday and dropped two games to the Sooners, 7-0 and 7-3.