No. 10 Red Raiders Return to Shriners Classic in Houston

LUBBOCK, Texas – No. 10 Texas Tech baseball looks to build on its five-game winning streak as it travels to Houston for a return to the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic this weekend at Minute Maid Park.

The Red Raiders (5-3) are making their fourth appearance at the event under head coach Tim Tadlock and their first since 2017. The trip crosses both Major League ballparks in the state of Texas off the list for Tadlock's crew, who opened their season at Globe Life Field in Arlington.

Tech, which is 5-4 all-time at the Shriners Hospitals College Classic, opens with Texas State at 7 p.m. Friday night. The Red Raiders then face Sam Houston State at 3 p.m. on Saturday, before closing with Texas A&M – Corpus Christi at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Winners of five in a row, the Red Raiders will go with the same rotation as last weekend. Brandon Birdsell (1-0, 7.20 ERA) will get the nod on Friday against Texas State RHP Zachary Leigh (0-1, 4.50 ERA). Patrick Monteverde (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will start on Saturday against Sam Houston State LHP Matt Dillard (0-1, 18.69 ERA). Mason Montgomery (1-0, 2.00 ERA) will take the finale against TAMUCC RHP Hayden Thomas (1-0, 1.50 ERA).

TICKETS & ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES
A limited number of individual game tickets and three-day tournament passes are available for purchase at Astros.com/CollegeClassic. There are new safety guidelines and regulations in place for the tournament. Below are a few of these guidelines:

No bags will be allowed in the venue for this event.
Fans may enter the ballpark through the Home Plate and South Home Plate Entrances along Texas Avenue.
Only digital tickets will be accepted.
Masks are required at all times within Minute Maid Park unless actively eating or drinking. Face shields will not be allowed in place of a mask.
Social distancing is required when moving throughout the ballpark. We encourage a 6' distance between you and others.
There is no re-entry.

HOW TO WATCH AND STREAM
All nine games of the tournament will be televised by AT&T SportsNet SW and streamed on Astros.com, MLB.com, the AT&T SportsNet app and the MLB app. AT&T SportsNet SW is available in the Astros five-state viewing area. Fans are asked to check local listings for more information.

As always, Tech fans can listen in over the radio on the Texas Tech Sports Network with Jamie Lent and Mike Gustafson on the call.

SERIES HISTORIES
Tech is 7-6 all-time against Texas State with the Red Raiders winning the last meeting in 2011. The Bobcats are 4-6 overall this season and are fresh off a 10-3 loss at home to Texas on Wednesday.

Tech will look to regain the lead in the all-time series with Sam Houston State on Saturday. The series is currently tied 6-6 with the Bearkats taking the two most recent matchups from the 2017 Lubbock Regional. The two teams met previously at the Shriners Classic in 2014 with the Bearkats winning, 10-6. SHSU is 1-4 on the year after dropping a 4-0 loss at Baylor on Tuesday.

Tech is 13-3 all-time against TAMUCC, a team they haven't met since 2011. The Islanders are 4-4 on the year after falling at Texas, 12-1, on Tuesday.

No. 10 Red Raiders Return to Shriners Classic in Houston

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Players Mentioned

Brandon Birdsell

Patrick Monteverde

Mason Montgomery

Texas Tech University Athletics