Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Kent State
Preview: Tech welcomes Kent State for weekend series
February 24, 2022 | Baseball
No. 20 TEXAS TECHÂ vs. KENT STATE
Feb. 25-27, 2022
Friday, 2:00 p.m.: Watch | Listen | Follow | Stats | Tickets- Saturday, 2:00 p.m.: Watch | Listen | Follow | Stats | TicketsÂ
- Sunday, 12:00 p.m.: Watch | Listen | Follow | Stats | Tickets
- Sunday, Gm.2: Watch | Listen | Follow | StatsÂ
above edited for announced postponement on Feb. 25
Texas Tech Game Notes (PDF) | Kent State Game Notes (PDF)
STARTERS
Texas Tech continues its 2022 home slate with its first weekend series of the season, Feb. 25-27, against Kent State at Rip Griffin Park, after hosting Dallas Baptist this past Tuesday.
As Texas Tech takes on Kent State for the first time in program history, the two missed each other at Rip Griffin Park in 2018 during the Lubbock Regional that slotted Texas Tech (1-seed), Louisville (2-seed), Kent State (3-seed) and New Mexico State (4-seed) together. Louisville defeated Kent State 13-6 in the two vs. three-seed matchup, then eliminated NMSU, 2-1, before catching its second loss to Louisville, 12-6, to eliminate them from the tournament before facing Texas Tech. The Red Raiders defeated NMSU and Louisville (twice) en route to the Super Regional and eventual College World Series appearance.Â
This weekend, John Harris and Mike Gustafson will call the game from inside Rip Griffin Park as coverage will be provided via Big 12 Now on ESPN+. The broadcast can be accessed from any desktop or laptop computer, any personal cellular device and television streaming services using the ESPN app. Registration for the subscription service can be found at ESPNPlus.com.
Texas Tech Sports Network will also broadcast the game over 46 affiliates throughout the state of Texas and New Mexico as Jamie Lent will have the call alongside analyst, Texas Tech baseball alum, Cameron Warren, on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, Lent will be joined in the booth by Geoff Haxton for the first time in 2022.Â
TEXAS TECHÂ IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
- D1Baseball: No. 20
- Baseball America: NR
- NCBWA: No. 21
- Collegiate Baseball: No. 16
- Perfect Game: No. 21
PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS
- Friday: RHP Andrew Morris, TTU (9.82 ERA, 0-0) vs. RHP Richie Dell, KSU (7.36 ERA, 0-0)
- Saturday: RHP Brandon Birdsell, TTU (4.50 ERA, 0-1) vs. LHP Collin Romel, KSU (5.40 ERA, 0-1)
- Sunday, Feb. 27: LHP Mason Molina, TTU (4.50 ERA, 0-1) vs. RHP Rocco Bernadina, KSU (2.08 ERA, 0-0)
A GLANCE AT KENT STATE
- Kent State did not have a midweek game, and played two different teams over its opening weekend in Conway, S.C. Two games against the host Coastal Carolina that they split, and lost a single neutral site game against West Virginia.
- The Kent State "Golden Flashes" are located in Kent, Ohio, about 50 miles southwest of Cleveland. The university is the third-largest in the state sporting an enrollment of 39,367, which trails Ohio State and Cincinnati.
- Kent State was picked to finish third in the 2022 preseason MAC coaches' poll.
- The Golden Flashes kept their streak of 30-win seasons alive last year with their 30-26 final record. They have had at least 30 wins in every full season since 1999.Â
- Projected Friday night starter Richie Dell has allowed three earned runs or fewer in five of last six starts.
- Clean-up hitter, and catcher, Justin Miknis (Jr.) was named the 2022 Preseason MAC Player of the Year. Â
- Centerfielder Collin Mathews (Sr.) is coming off an All-MAC and All-Region season, as he led the Flashes in RBI (49), doubles (14), and steals (17).
A NEW YEAR
The 2022 Red Raiders feature 21 new faces and 19 veterans. Tech returns six position players that started at least 30 games and 11 pitchers including Brandon Birdsell who was selected in the 11th round of last year's MLB draft. Meanwhile, Jace Jung is who's grabbed the headlines, as the 2021 Big 12 Player of the Year, enters 2022 as the conference's preseason player of the year, a Golden Spikes Watch Lister, and a five-time first team preseason All-American.
HEY FRESHMAN
The young guns of Texas Tech's 2022 squad have made its presence known just four games in the season. Most notably right fielder Owen Washburn (4 starts), catcher Hudson White (4 starts) and right-handed pitcher Trendan Parish.
- Washburn: leads team in batting average (.357), runs scored (5) and hits (5), and is second behind Jace Jung in base on balls (4). The highlight came in his first collegiate game, providing the 2-out, walk-off single to give Tech a 7-6 win against Michigan on Feb. 18.
- White: the Red Raiders lost the veteran leadership behind the dish in Braxton Fulford, who started 144 games and was drafted in the sixth round by the Colorado Rockies in last year's MLB Draft. The freshman from Byron Nelson HS in Keller, Texas has stepped right in to be a steady presence for this year's pitching staff
- Parish: shares the team-lead in innings pitched (6.0) with Chase Hampton. Parish owns a 0.00 ERA and is the only pitcher on staff to have a clean sheet of those that have pitched 5.0 innings or more. He relived Birdsell on Saturday against Auburn, and finished the game's last four innings, and closed Tuesday's game in 2.0 innings and earned his first career save.
RED RAIDER NATION TRAVELS
Saturday's games at the State Farm Showdown were the highest neutral site attendance (10,515) of the season, and the seventh-biggest crowd in college baseball during opening weekend. A large contingent of that crowd was from the scarlet and black as "Raider, Power" chants even broke out during Saturday's opening game between K-State and Michigan, which was about 2 p.m. when the Texas Tech basketball game went final, prior to the baseball team's 3 p.m. scheduled game against Auburn.Â
DON'T FORGET FRIDAY'SÂ TIME CHANGE
This Friday's contest against Kent State was announced on Monday for time change - moving to a 2 p.m. start. Officials elected to move the time from 6:30 p.m. due to the weather forecast.
--TECH--
