No. 8 Tech Set for Top-10 Clash

Friday, April 9

Lubbock, TX

6:30 PM

Texas Tech Athletics

TCU

April 08, 2021 | Baseball

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Red Raiders play host to No. 10 TCU this weekend in Lubbock

By: Ty Parker, Texas Tech Athletics Communications

LUBBOCK, Texas – No. 8 Texas Tech baseball returns home for its third Big 12 series of the season as it hosts No. 10 TCU for a top-10 showdown this weekend at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.

The three-game series gets underway Friday at 6:30 p.m. The series continues with a 2 p.m., first pitch on Saturday followed by a 12 p.m., start for the finale on Sunday.

The entire series can be seen on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. Fans can also tune in to the radio call on the Texas Tech Sports Network from Geoff Haxton and Jamie Lent.

The Red Raiders (20-6, 3-3) are looking to rebound from a series loss at Kansas State last weekend, while TCU (21-7, 6-0) heads to Lubbock with a 10-game win streak.

TICKETS & PROMOTIONS
Fans are encouraged to check www.TexasTech.com for ticket availability for upcoming home games. Season ticket holders who are unable to attend a game in which they have tickets are encouraged to utilize Texas Tech's mobile ticketing transfer platform to ensure their seats are used on gameday. Tech students receive free admission with the swipe of their student ID.

Friday is 'Backyard Baseball' night at the ballpark with themed player trading cards being handed out to the first 1,000 fans.

On Friday, Lubbock Mayor Dan Pope is sponsoring free Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccinations to all ages 18 and up. The vaccines, only for patrons with tickets to the game, will be available inside Rip Griffin Park along the concourse area on the third base line starting at 5:30 p.m., to the end of the third inning.

PITCHING MATCHUP
Gm 1: RHP Micah Dallas (1-1, 1.59 ERA) vs. LHP Russell Smith (5-1, 2.25 ERA)
Gm 2: LHP Patrick Monteverde (5-1, 2.03 ERA) vs. LHP Austin Krob (4-0, 2.27 ERA)
Gm 3: RHP Brandon Birdsell (4-1, 3.03 ERA) vs. RHP Johnny Ray (2-1, 3.57 ERA)

TOP 10 SHOWDOWN IN LUBBOCK
This will be the first regular-season meeting of top-10 teams at Rip Griffin Park since Tech and TCU squared off in Lubbock in 2017. Tech's last 21 games against top-10 teams have been away from home aside from the 2019 Lubbock Super Regional against No. 9 Oklahoma State. Head coach Tim Tadlock is 78-68 against ranked opponents at Tech, including 31-30 against top-10 opponents

INSIDE THE SERIES
Texas Tech has won three of the last four regular-season series with TCU and 4-of-7 under head coach Tim Tadlock. Friday's meeting will be the 175th between the two programs. Tech has played TCU more than any other school in its baseball history. Tech holds a 41-37 advantage all-time against TCU in Lubbock.

Since TCU began playing a Big 12 baseball schedule in 2013, this will be the third time the two teams will meet up as top-10 clubs. Tech won both prior series in 2016 and 2017 on its way to back-to-back Big 12 Championships.

THE LAST TIME (2019)
The last time these two teams met up was in the 2019 regular season finale as the Red Raiders rebounded from a game 1 loss to win the final two games and claim the 2019 Big 12 Championship. TCU won the opener, 3-1, in a 14-inning thriller before Tech came back with a 7-2 win to even the series. With the bases loaded in the 9th inning of the finale, Dylan Neuse squeezed the final out near the warning track for an 8-4 victory to hoist the trophy.

HOME DOMINANCE
Texas Tech is off to a 16-1 start at home this season and has won 28 of its last 29 home games dating back to 2019. The home success is nothing new for the Red Raiders, who are 204-53 at home under Tadlock, including 58-29 at home against conference opponents. Tech had the nation's longest home winning streak come to an end last month at 23 straight games, marking the second longest home winning streak in program history behind a 24-game streak by the 1996 club. Tech has won 15 straight weekend series at home, including 6 straight against Big 12 teams (including the 2019 Super Regional against Oklahoma State).

TOP 10 OFFENSE
The Red Raiders continue to rank among the nation's best in several offensive categories, including base on balls (5th), slugging (6th), home runs (7th), on base percentage (8th) and runs scored (8th). Defensively, Tech ranks fourth nationally in double plays.

IN THE RANKINGS
The Red Raiders have been ranked in the top 10 by at least one of the six major polls all season. They enter this week at No. 8 according to D1Baseball.com and the USA Today Coaches Poll. Four of the six major polls have the Red Raiders in their top 10.

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