Afternoon Headlines for March 31st

Texas Tech head softball coach Shanon Hays announced today the promotion of assistant coach Aly Sartini to the title of associate head coach, effective immediately. Sartini is in her second season directing the Red Raider pitching staff along with the program’s outfielders, and she made a quick impact on the Tech pitching staff in her first season, cutting the teams earned-run average in half. Tech finished with a 2.42 ERA in 2010, the school’s lowest total since the 2001 season. Sartini also assists in Tech’s recruiting efforts and serves as the academic and travel coordinator.

In other Red Raider news the Texas Tech Track and Field team has added a dynamic sprinter in Philadelphia native Cierra White. She is the high school indoor 200M national champion as well as a two-time Pennsylvania State Champion. White now joins the class of three No. 1 signees on the women’s side with Le’Tristan Pledger (Washington HS/Kansas City, Kan.) in the long jump, Michaela Palu (Marshall/San Antonio) in the high jump and Hannah Carson (Chandler/Chandler, Ariz.) in the javelin.

The 17 and 8 Texas Tech Red Raider baseball team will travel to take on the 19 and 6 and 7^th ranked Oklahoma Sooners tomorrow for a three game weekend series. The Sooners and Red Raiders will be meeting for the 15^th consecutive year when first pitch gets under way tomorrow at 6:30. The two teams will then meet at 7 o’clock on Saturday and will wrap up the weekend with a 1 o’clock start time on Sunday.

Both the Texas Tech men’s and women’s tennis teams will return to the court this weekend. The 21^st ranked Men’s team has two home matches remaining, beginning first with Sunday’s match-up against Oklahoma State with a 1 p.m. start time from the McLeod Tennis Center. The women’s tennis team will put their 13-4 overall record and 3-1 Big 12 mark on the line when the face the 23^rd ranked University of Texas on Friday at one from the McLeod Tennis Complex.

Over in the NBA there’s only two games on the scheduled for tonight as they’re part of TNT’s double header coverage. The NBA best San Antonio Spurs will play host to the Boston Celtics with tip-off scheduled for 7 from the AT&T Center. The two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers will play host to the Dallas Mavericks, with tip-off getting underway at 9:30. The Lakers and Mavs are two of the hottest teams in league at the moment as LA enters the game having won 7 straight and the Mavs winning 5 straight.

Opening Day of Major League baseball kicked off today, and there were six games on the docket to start off the season. Games out of the American League saw the Yankees defeat the Tigers by a final of 6 to 3, and the other game in the AL has the Los Angeles Angels leading the Kansas City Royals 4 to zero in the top of the 7^th inning.

Out of the National League the Atlanta Braves defeated the Washington Nationals two to zero. The Cincinnati Reds took down the Milwaukee Brewers by a final of 7 to 6.

The St. Louis Cardinals are currently tied with the San Diego Padres at 2 in the top of the 8^th inning, and the final game of the day will see the defending World Series Champion San Francisco Giants taking on the Dodgers with a 7 o’clock first pitch time.

The Texas Rangers will begin their season on Friday by opening up a three game series from home against the Boston Red Sox., and the Houston Astros season will also begin on Friday, but from the road as they’ll be in Philadelphia taking on the Phillies with first pitch scheduled for 12:05.

In PGA action the first round of the Shell Houston Open kicked off today from the Redstone Golf Club. Nick O’Hern and Josh Teater finished their day tied atop the leader board at 7 under par after shooting an opening round 65. Jimmy Walker sits alone in second place at 6 under par through 12 holes, and there are 4 players tied for 4^th at 5 under par who have all finished their day.