Texas Tech Hosts Nebraska
June 21, 1999 | Baseball
April 29, 1999
LUBBOCK, Texas - No. 14 Texas Tech (16-6 Big 12, 37-11) hosts Big 12 rival Nebraska (13-8 Big 12, 30-14) for a weekend series in Lubbock, Texas at Dan Law Field. The games will be on Friday at 7 p.m. and a Saturday 2 p.m. doubleheader.
Texas Tech enters the weekend after defeating Eastern New Mexico 11-4 on Tuesday.
Texas Tech is 7-4 all-time against Nebraska in baseball. The Cornhuskers defeated Tech last year 2-1 in a three-game series in Lincoln. Head coach Larry Hays is 7-4 against Nebraska.
Probable starters for Texas Tech are RHP Shane Wright, RHP Kevin Tracey and RHP Brad Ralston.
HAYS NEEDS ONE WIN TO REACH 500- VICTORY MILESTONE AT TECH
Texas Tech head coach Larry Hays needs only three more victories to reach his 500th victory at Texas Tech. Hays is currently 499-253-1 in his 13 years at Texas Tech.
HAYS NEEDS SIX WINS TO REACH 1,200 COACHING VICTORY MILESTONE
Texas Tech head coach Larry Hays needs only six more victories to reach career victory number 1,200. He currently is 1194-634-2 combined in his career at Lubbock Christian and Texas Tech. Should he win 1,200 career victories, he would become only the eighth coach in college baseball coaching history to achive such a feat.
RALSTON BREAKS TEXAS TECH CAREER APPEARANCES RECORD
Senior Brad Ralston broke the Texas Tech career record for appearances with his 83rd of his career Tuesday vs. Eastern New Mexico. Ralston ran his record to 9-0 and surpassed Jimmy Frushs previous record of 82 set from 1994-1997.
WEBER HITS FOR CYCLE...Weber becomes fourth player in Texas Tech history to hit for the cycle
Outfielder Jon Weber continued his assault on the Texas Tech recordbook Tuesday as he became the fourth player in Texas Tech baseball history to hit for the cycle.
Weber drove in a run on an RBI single in the first inning, blasted a two-RBI double in the second inning, walked in his third plate appearance in the third, nailed an RBI triple in the fourth and sent a 0-0 pitch over the wall for a solo home run in the sixth inning. Weber, whose four hits were a career high, struck out looking in the eighth inning.
Only three other players in Texas Tech history have hit for the cycle- Clint Bryant (5/27/95), Neal Leonard (3/3/95) and Mike Humphreys (2/14/86).
ROBERSON BREAKS TEXAS TECH SEASON SAVE RECORD
Junior closer Brandon Roberson broke the Texas Tech season save record vs. Oklahoma with his ninth save on the season. The junior from Fort Worth, Texas, broke the previous record of eight saves set by Tom Black in 1976. He needs only six more saves to break the Texas Tech school career record of 14 set by Brad Ralston. The Big 12 season and career save record is 11 set by Kansas States David Johnson in 1997. Roberson is also 9/10 in save opportunities and only one runner that he has inherited has scored.
WRIGHT BREAKS INNINGS RECORD
Shane Wright broke the Texas Tech record for career innings pitched. He now currently has 339.0 innings pitched for his three-year career. Wright broke Rodney Stephs (1988-91) former record of 335.0 innings pitched.
WEBER TIES SEASON TRIPLES RECORD
With his triple in the fourth inning, junior Jon Weber tied the school record for season triples. It was his eighth triple on the season. Weber needs only one more triple this season to own the record. He is now tied with Stubby Clapp (1996) and Ronnie Mattson (1975).
TEXAS TECHS 27-GAME HOME WIN STREAK, 35-GAME WIN STREAK VS. NON-NCAA DIVISION I TEAMS FALL
Mondays 7-4 loss to College of the Southwest at Dan Law Field broke a 27-game home winning streak for Texas Tech. The loss also snapped a 35-game winning streak against non-NCAA Division I schools.
College of the Southwest also broke Texas Techs spotless record at home this season. The Mustangs handed Tech its first loss at home this season after 21 victories and dropped Techs home record to 21-1.
The Red Raiders had their 27-game home winning streak in tact since last losing at home 15-1 to Oklahoma on April 24, 1998.
Texas Tech has had six straight .800+ seasons at Dan Law Field and is well on its way to recording its ninth straight .800+ winning season. That proves that Dan Law Field is one of the toughest venues to win at for an opponent.
The all-time home winning streak record is 30 straight games set from 4/28/95-4/27/96. The 27-game winning streak is the second best ever by a Tech team.
TECH STARTERS HAVE DONE THE JOB
Texas Tech starting pitching has been outstanding this season. Shane Wright, Kevin Tracey and Brad Ralston are a combined 30-5 overall (.857 winning percentage).
TECH CLOSE TO SEASON SAVE RECORD
Texas Tech has accumulated 11 saves on the season. The Red Raiders need only two more saves to break the team season record of 12 saves set back in 1976.
BARD HITS 40-HOMER MILESTONE
Junior Josh Bard reached the 40-career home run milestone Saturday against Kansas State. He hit his 40th homer of his career to put Tech up 9-8 in the ninth inning of a victory over Kansas State in Wichita. Only four players in Texas Tech history have hit 40+ home runs including Bard (40), Mike Humphreys (41), Joe Dillon (43) and Clint Bryant (44). Bard needs only five more home runs to break the Texas Tech career record of 44 set by Clint Bryant from1993-1996.
K-STATE DEFEATS TTU FOR FIRST TIME
Kansas State defeated Texas Tech for the first time. Prior to April 24, Texas Tech was 6-0 vs. the Wildcats. Kansas State was the only Big 12 team never to defeat Texas Tech.
TECH EARNS FIRST ROAD CONFERENCE SWEEP SINCE 1997
Texas Tech earned its first road conference sweep against Oklahoma since 1997 when it defeated Kansas State three straight in Manhattan, Kansas.
TECH BECOMES FIRST BIG 12 TEAM TO REACH 20 VICTORIES
With its 5-1 victory on March16 against West Texas A&M, Texas Tech became the first team in the Big 12 to reach 20 wins. At the time, Texas had 19 wins while Baylor had 17. Several other schools around the nation already had won 20+ games including Rice, Auburn, Florida International and Arizona State among others.
CUNNINGHAM, RUIZ MOVING UP THE CHARTS IN SEASON STEALS
Leadoff hitter Marco Cunningham and No. 2 hitter Ryan Ruiz are listed as the top two base stealers in the Big 12. Ryan Ruiz has 32 steals while Marco Cunningham has 31 on the season through 48 games. Ruiz is ranked sixth while Cunningham is seventh on the all-time Texas Tech season steals list. The Texas Tech season record is 51 set by Matt Kastelic.
RUIZ RANKED IN BASES-ON-BALLS, SECOND IN HIT-BY-PITCH
Outfielder Ryan Ruiz has now totaled 49 walks in 48 games and is already ranked seventh among season leaders. Keith Ginter broke the record last season with 78.
Ruiz also needs to be hit by pitch two more times this season to break the season record. He currently has been hit 10 times this season and could break the season record held by Kevin Jordan (1998) and Jess Olivares (1997) of 11.
WEBER SEVENTH ON SEASON RBI LIST, BARD NINTH
Jon Weber raised his RBI total to 77 on the season and is now ranked seventh on the all-time Texas Tech list for runs batted in while Josh Bard has 73 RBI and is ranked ninth on the season list. Bard has already surpassed last seasons total of 71. The record is 100 RBI held by Clint Bryant in 1996.
BARD MOVES TO 2ND IN CAREER RBI
With Bards 73 season RBI, that brought his career total to 213, good for second place on the schools all-time career RBI leaders. He trails school leader Clint Bryant whose career record is 271.
BARD MOVES TO 2ND IN DOUBLES
Josh Bard has moved into second place on the Texas Tech school career doubles list. Upon entering this weekend, Bard has 23 doubles on the season, giving him 68 doubles in his three-year career. Clint Bryant (1993-96) holds the career record for doubles- 73 in his four-year career. At his current pace, Bard would break the record sometime later in the season. Bard also needs seven more doubles to break the school season record held by Jason Landreth (29 in 1997).
RUIZ MOVES TO 6TH IN CAREER STEALS
Ryan Ruiz moved into sixth place on the all-time Texas Tech career steals list. He currently has 32 steals on the season and 54 in his career. The all-time steals leader is Matt Kastelic (1995-96) with 97.
HONORS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS
TEAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS
First Big 12 team to reach 20 victories
Completed 27-game home win streak
Went 21-0 through first 21 games at home
Earned first Big 12 road sweep since 1997 (OU)
Won 18 of 19 during one stretch of season
Swept Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa State, Texas A&M (2)
Ended 35-game win streak vs. non-Division I opponents
HONORS EARNED
Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week
Jon Weber (week of February 1)
Big 12 Baseball Player/Pitcher of the Week
Jon Weber (week of February 1)
Shane Wright (week of February 22)
Kevin Tracey (week of March 8)
Collegiate Baseball Preaseason All America
Shane Wright (First Team), Josh Bard (Second Team)
Baseball America Preseason All America
Josh Bard (Second Team)
Baseball America Preseason All Big 12
Josh Bard, Shane Wright, Miles Durham, Brennan Burns
Collegiate Baseball Preseason "Players to Watch"
Shane Wright, Josh Bard, Brad Ralston, Ryan Ruiz
Baseball America Preseason Top Prospects (1999)
Josh Bard
Baseball America Preseason Top Prospects (2000)
Miles Durham
Baseball America Best Big 12 Tools
Best Pure Hitter- Josh Bard; Fastest Runner- Chris Sampson; Catcher/Best Arm- Josh Bard; Best Control- Shane Wright
Big 12 Commissioners Semester Honor Roll List
Cade Allison, Josh Bard, Brennan Burns, Clancy Fossum, Jason Huth, Ben Long, Trey Lunsford, David OKeeffe, Brad Ralston, Chad Reynolds, Steve Rowe, Ryan Stonerock, Kevin Tracey
Big 12 All Academic Nominees
Steve Richardson, Josh Bard, Brad Ralston, Jason Huth
SCHOOL RECORDS BROKEN
Shane Wright- career victories
Shane Wright- career complete games
Shane Wright- career innings pitched
Brad Ralston- career pitching appearances
Brandon Roberson- season saves
Jon Weber, season triples
Jon Weber, fourth player in TTU history to hit for cycle
Ryan Ruiz, game bases-on-balls vs. Howard 2/6/99 (5)
Texas Tech, game bases-on balls vs. Howard, 2/6/99 (17)
Texas Tech, runs-inning (11) vs. Iowa State, 4/3/99, 2nd
BIG 12 RECORDS BROKEN
Jon Weber- Big 12 RBI (series), 20 vs. Howard (4 games)
Texas Tech, game bases-on-balls vs. Howard, 2/6/99 (17)
TEXAS TECH IN THE 1999 POLLS
Week CB BA BW MFSPP
Preseason 13 19 20 N/A
Feb. 8 13 19 N/A N/A
Feb. 15 13 22 17 N/A
Feb. 22 17 23 19 N/A
March 2 18 18 13 N/A
March 8 21 18 17 N/A
March 15 18 13 13 N/A
March 23 14 10 13 N/A
March 29 21 16 20 N/A
April 5 20 12 14 13
April 12 17 11 12 10
April 19 17 10 12 9
April 25 18 15 14 15
Poll Key: CB=Collegiate Baseball; BA=Baseball America; BW=USA Baseball Weekly/ESPN Coaches Poll; TSN=The Sporting News