Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Heads To Arizona State For Key Midweek Game
February 27, 2006 | Baseball
Feb. 27, 2006
TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS (9-3; 0-0)
AT
#17/21 ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS (10-5; 0-0)
Date(s): February 28, 2006 (Tuesday)
Location: Tempe, Ariz.
Stadium: Packard Stadium (3,879)
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RED RAIDERS FACE ARIZONA STATE IN KEY MIDWEEK GAME
Texas Tech will head to Tempe, Ariz. on Tuesday night for a key midweek match-up against 2005 College World Series participant Arizona State. The Red Raiders and 17th-ranked Sun Devils will throw out the first pitch at Packard Stadium at 8 p.m. (CT). Tickets for the game are on sale through the Arizona State Athletics Ticket Office or can be purchased online at www.thesundevils.com.
Tuesday night's game in the desert features the Big 12 against the Pac-10 and is a key RPI game for both conferences and schools. Tech and Arizona State will play twice in the midweek this season as the Sun Devils come to Lubbock on Tuesday, April 17. Tuesday's game will mark the first meeting between these two schools since the NCAA Regional held at Cal-State Fullerton back in 2001. The Red Raiders avenged a first-game loss to the Sun Devils by winning an elimination game (9-8) on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth.
Texas Tech enters the game riding a six-game win streak thanks to a three-game sweep of the Cox Communications Midland Collegiate Classic this past weekend at Citibank Ballpark. The Red Raiders hit .367 over the weekend and got strong pitching performances from Miles Morgan, Dustin Richardson and Zach Butler. Tech defeated Dallas Baptist 13-5 in the tourney opener before winning 15-7 over Texas-Arlington and 7-4 over Oral Roberts.
Tuesday's game against Arizona State marks the beginning of a busy stretch for the Red Raiders as the squad will play 10 games over 14 days. The 10 game stretch will hopefully have the Red Raiders in shape for the Big 12 season that gets underway on March 17 when Tech plays host to defending national champion Texas in a three-game series at Dan Law Field.
A LOOK AT ARIZONA STATE
Arizona State enters Tuesday's game against Texas Tech with a 10-5 overall record after taking 2-of-3 this past weekend from Baylor at Baylor Ballpark in Waco. The Sun Devils swept a doubleheader on Saturday before falling 5-3 in Sunday's series finale. Arizona State finished third in the national baseball polls last season and earned their 19th appearance in the NCAA College World Series. The Sun Devils are coached by Pat Murphy who is in his 12th season at the helm.
On paper, Tuesday's game between Texas Tech and Arizona State looks like it should be a close and exciting game. The Red Raiders and Sun Devils enter the game with virtually identical resumes as both teams have a cumulative 4.50 staff ERA and the offensive numbers are pretty close to mirror images. Tech and ASU have shown some speed so far this year as both teams have 26 stolen bases and ASU is led individually by Colin Curtis who is 9-for-9.
Offensively, Arizona State is hitting just under .300 on the year (.298) and totals 23 doubles, five triples, and nine home runs. Willy Fox is the team leader in average (.404), triples (3), home runs (2) and is second with 12 RBI. Ike Davis is the RBI leader with 16 and also paces the team with six doubles.
On the mound, the Sun Devils are led by Jeff Urlaub who is 3-0 on the season in four relief appearances and two starts. Urlaub has a 2.14 ERA over 21 innings and is second on the team with 20 strikeouts. Zechry Zinicola is the designated closer and already has three saves in eight outings.
AGAINST THE SUN DEVILS
Tuesday's game marks the 17th match-up in the all-time series between the Red Raiders and Sun Devils. Arizona State has a 13-3 advantage over the Red Raiders but Tech won the last contest 9-8 in the NCAA Fullerton Regional in 2001.
NEXT UP FOR TEXAS TECH
Texas Tech will have one day off and it will be spent traveling as the Red Raiders return home to Lubbock on late Wednesday and will open up a three-game series against Campbell on Thursday afternoon. The Red Raiders and Camels will throw out the first pitch at Dan Law Field beginning at 3 p.m. Following the series against Campbell, Tech heads back to the desert to face UNLV in a two-game series beginning on Monday, March 6.
