No. 10 Tech Hosts New Mexico In Midweek Tilt

Tuesday, February 28

Lubbock, Texas

2 p.m.

Texas Tech Athletics

New Mexico

No. 10 Tech Hosts New Mexico In Midweek Tilt

February 27, 2017 | Baseball

Texas Tech Notes New Mexico Notes Live Stats Live Stream ($)

The Red Raiders take on the Lobos on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 2 p.m. in Lubbock

LUBBOCK, Texas – The No. 10 Red Raiders wrap up their six-game home stand with a midweek matchup against New Mexico on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 2 p.m. at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.

Tuesday's contest can be streamed with a paid subscription to TexasTech.TV and can also be heard on the Texas Tech Sports Network on 97.3 FM. Live stats will also be available via TexasTech.Statbroadcast.com.

After returning from a 3-1 weekend in Starkville, Tech carried over the momentum five-straight home victories. The Red Raiders opened their home campaign with a 16-1 win over New Mexico State on Feb. 21, followed by a sweep of California on Feb. 24-26. Tech defeated the Golden Bears: 4-2, 5-1, 3-2 (11) and 11-2, to improve to 8-1 on the season.

The Red Raiders and the Lobos (4-2) met four times in 2016, three during the regular season and one in the NCAA Regional play. Tech took the season series, 3-1, picking up a 14-10 victory in Lubbock on March 22. In a two-game road trip to Albuquerque, the Red Raiders split, taking game one, 7-4, while falling 6-5 in the regular season finale.

The postseason matchup provided plenty of theatrics, as Stephen Smith launched a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning to put Tech up, 4-3. The game was closed out by a walk-off pick-off, as Hayden Howard caught a Lobo runner lurking too far off first to send Tech to the championship round of the Lubbock Regional.

Tech leads the all-time series between the two, 68-45-1, while posting a 43-20 record in Lubbock.

Tech called upon freshman right-handed pitcher John Henry Gonzalez for the start in the Lubbock opener and will turn to him again against the Lobos on Tuesday. The Edinburg, Texas, native, turned in 5.1 innings pitched in his first collegiate start, giving up only two hits and one run, while striking out five to earn the win. His one run came in the first inning and followed it up with four-straight scoreless frames. He was backed up by four other Red Raider pitchers over the final 3.2 IP, who combined for no hits, one walk, and four strikeouts.

In the four-game series with Cal, Tech's pitching staff and defense held the Golden Bears to two or fewer runs in every game, including a one-run contest in game one of Saturday's doubleheader. All four of Tech's starters pitched at least 5.0 innings, as sophomores Steven Gingery and Davis Martin both tossed season-high 7.0 frames, while Ryan Shetter put together a career-high 10 strikeouts over 6.2 IP. It was the highest strikeout total by a Red Raider this season.

Gingery's seven-inning, seven-strikeout and two-hit performance helped earn him Big 12 Pitcher of the Week on February 27. With the award, Tech has now garnered a nod for all three of the conference's weekly honors through only two weeks of competition.

At the plate, Red Raider hitters carried over a strong opening weekend with another great week, racking up 10 or more runs in two of the games. Tech got timely hits from all over the roster, including a pair of grand slams from Orlando Garcia (2/21) and Hunter Hargrove (2/26). The Red Raiders hit five homers overall last week among the 53 overall hits, averaging over 10 per game. Tech also scored 39 runs, with eight coming from freshman Grant Little, followed by Hargrove and Garcia with five each.

Tech moved up in four of the polls this week after going 5-0 last week to improve to 8-1 in 2017. The Red Raiders are once again ranked the highest by D1 Baseball, cracking the top 10 at No. 10 in this week's poll. The National College Baseball Writer's Association slotted Tech at No. 11 in this week's rankings, while Collegiate Baseball Newspaper put the Red Raiders at No. 12. Tech held firm in Baseball America's rankings at No. 21, while moving into the top 25 in Perfect Game's poll at No. 24.

After Tuesday's game, Tech will head down to Houston for the 17^th annual Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic, making their 10^th appearance in the weekend tournament. The Red Raiders will battle with No. 11 Texas A&M on Friday, March 3, at 3 p.m., to open the weekend. On Saturday, Tech will take on No. 8 Ole Miss at noon, before wrapping up the weekend against No. 2 LSU on Sunday at 10 a.m. All three games will be televised on FOX Sports Net and will be played at Minute Maid Park.