No. 9 Texas Tech Readies for Early Doubleheader with FIU

LUBBOCK, Texas – The No. 9 Texas Tech baseball team returns home for the final five games of the regular season, starting with an early doubleheader against FIU that begins at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Rip Griffin Park.

Originally slated to start at 2 p.m., the two teams announced Monday afternoon that Tuesday's opener will now begin at 11 a.m. due to inclement weather activity in the forecast Tuesday night. The second game will follow approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the initial contest.

Fans can take in two games for the price of one on Tuesday as one ticket provides admission into both games. Texas Tech's clear bag policy will be in effect, however, students are permitted to enter with backpacks after they are tagged at the gate.

For fans unable to attend, the games will be available on TexasTech.TV with Robert Giovannetti and Mike Gustafson on the call. As always, both matchups can be heard on the Texas Tech Sports Network on 97.3 FM, the 97.3 app, the TuneIn app and at TexasTech.com.

The two clubs will meet for the third time in the history of the two programs on Tuesday with the teams previously splitting a two-game midweek series in Miami in 2013. The Panthers are making their second visit to the Lone Star State this season after traveling to Houston the first week of April for a three-game series at Rice and a midweek game at Houston.

The Red Raiders (33-14, 14-7) are one of the hottest teams in the country with wins in 10 of their last 11 games. Tech is coming off a three-game sweep of Oklahoma in Norman over the weekend and has climbed within a half game of first place in the Big 12 standings with one series remaining. The streak includes eight straight wins over Big 12 foes, including consecutive sweeps of No. 16 Oklahoma State and Oklahoma.

Tech has jumped back into the Top 10 in four of the six major polls, slotted as high as No. 9 by Baseball America and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Tech is the highest ranked Big 12 team in five of the six polls and has been ranked in the Top 10 by at least one poll for eight weeks this season.

A Red Raider has taken home Big 12 Player of the Week for the second consecutive week as senior Cameron Warren received the award Monday for his stellar week at the plate. He hit a three-run home run as part of Tech's epic comeback against UTRGV last Wednesday, followed by two more dingers in the series opener near his hometown in Oklahoma. He finished the week leading the conference in batting, slugging and on-base percentage.

The Panthers (20-27, 9-15 C-USA) leave South Beach for the first time in three weeks and head to Lubbock after dropping two of three to UAB over the weekend. FIU is currently 11^th in the crowded C-USA standings, but is a big weekend away from shooting up to as high as fifth.

Panther right-hander Christian Santana (1-1, 4.58) is the reigning C-USA Pitcher of the Week, and he will get the rock for the opener on Tuesday. He earned the award after throwing eight shutout innings with 10 strikeouts and no walks in a win over Bethune-Cookman on Thursday. FIU's game two starter is TBD.

Texas Tech will go with its left-handed duo on Tuesday. Freshman Mason Montgomery (3-1, 4.81 ERA) will be on the bump for the first game while junior Erikson Lanning (0-1, 5.00) will go in game two.

Tuesday will be the second doubleheader of the season for Texas Tech. The series opener at Kansas State was pushed to Saturday, and the Red Raiders swept the twin bill to secure the series win.

Tech is 9-3 in midweek tilts this season, including 5-1 at home. FIU, meanwhile, is 4-8 in midweek contests and 7-13 on the road.

Rip Griffin Park has provided yet another impressive home field advantage for the Red Raiders in 2019. Tech is 22-5 at home and is averaging 9.6 runs per game while limiting opponents to 5.3 runs.

Following the midweek series, Tech will take eight days off for finals before closing out the regular season with a three-game set against TCU on May 16-18 at Rip Griffin Park.

No. 9 Texas Tech Readies for Early Doubleheader with FIU

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Players Mentioned

Erikson Lanning

Mason Montgomery

Cameron Warren

Texas Tech University Athletics