Tech heads to Phoenix for first Big 12 series vs. ASU

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Fresh off a dramatic weekend series win over Baylor, Texas Tech Baseball heads to Phoenix for a three-game weekend series this weekend.

The series begins on Thursday night with an 8:30 p.m. (CT)/ 6:30 p.m. (MST) first pitch before a 9 p.m. (CT)/7 p.m. (MST) first pitch on Friday. The Red Raiders and Sun Devils will close out the series at 3 p.m. (CT)/1 p.m. (MST) on Saturday.

The Red Raiders and Sun Devils are meeting for the second-straight season, as Tech played ASU twice last May 16-17 as part of a three-team weekend tournament.

INSIDE THE SERIES:

GAME ONE:
MATCHUP: Texas Tech (11-21, 7-8 Big 12) at Arizona State (23-14, 9-6 Big 12)
DATE: Thursday, Apr. 17, 2025
TIME: 8:30 p.m. (CT)/6:30 p.m. (MST)
LOCATION: Phoenix Memorial Stadium (Tempe, Ariz.)
PITCHING MATCHUP: RHP Mac Heuer vs. LHP Ben Jacobs (2-1, 4.82 ERA)

GAME TWO:
MATCHUP: Texas Tech (11-21, 7-8 Big 12) at Arizona State (23-14, 9-6 Big 12)
DATE: Friday, Apr. 18, 2025
TIME: 9 p.m. (CT)/7 p.m. (MST)
LOCATION: Phoenix Memorial Stadium (Tempe, Ariz.)
PITCHING MATCHUP: TBA vs. RHP Jack Martinez (4-2, 4.83 ERA)

GAME THREE:
MATCHUP: Texas Tech (11-21, 7-8 Big 12) at Arizona State (23-14, 9-6 Big 12)
DATE: Saturday, Apr. 19, 2025
TIME: 3 p.m. (CT)/1 p.m. (MST)
LOCATION: Phoenix Memorial Stadium (Tempe, Ariz.)
PITCHING MATCHUP: TBA vs. TBA

HEADLINES IN 1-2-3:
* Fresh off a much needed series win against Baylor last weekend, the Red Raiders return to action this weekend in Phoenix against sixth-place Arizona State. Trailing the Sun Devils by just two games in the standings, the Red Raiders will make their second-straight trip to Phoenix Memorial Stadium after the Red Raiders played ASU twice last yr last May.

* In last weekends series victory over Baylor, Texas Tech ace Mac Heuer returned to form after a tough outing against Cincinnati as the righty tossed a career-high 108 pitches in his six innings of work. Heuer punched out seven, reaching the sixth inning for the second time this season. He and relivers Jack Cebert and Trendan Parish held the potent Baylor offense to just two runs on Friday.

* After seeing Baylor punch back for an 18-4 win on Saturday and down 5-0 and 7-5 early, the Red Raiders used a 4-for-4 day from first baseman Robin Villeneuve and a 3-for-4 day from Antonelli Savattere to down Baylor 9-8. In the win, Cebert again shined this time tossing 4.0 innings of one run ball to earn his fourth Big 12 win of the season. Cebert is now tied with Tommy LaPour for the Big 12 lead in wins in conference games and lowered his Big 12 only ERA to 1.40, the second-lowest ERA in Conference only games in the league. Cebert is now holding league batters to a .198 batting average against.

SERIES NOTES:

BACK IN PHOENIX

The Red Raiders will be playing their third series in less than a calendar year in the City of Phoenix this weekend when they face Arizona State. The Red Raiders went to PHX last season to face Arizona State and UNLV to close the regular season (May 16-17). Tech also played up the road at Grand Canyon this season, as Tech and GCU played a weekend Mar. 7-9.

CEBERTS BECOMING A WEAPON

Former USF weekend starter, Jack Cebert continues to find a home for Tim Tadlock and the Red Raiders in the bullpen. Since making a pair of starts against UNC and UC Irvine, Cebert has made the transition to the bullpen look seamless. One of the best relievers in the Big 12 Conference, Cebert co-leads the Big 12 in victories in Conference Only games (4) with TCUs Tommy LaPour. After pitching 6.1 one-run innings and earning the victory in both Tech wins last weekend, Cebert lowered his Big 12 only ERA to 1.40, the second-lowest ERA in Conference only games in the league. After appearing in just one game per weekend, the righty made his first Friday/Sunday appearance of the season. Cebert is now holding league batters to a .198 batting average against.

FIRST TIME AS CONFERENCE FOES

After facing Arizona State last season in non-conference play as well as in the 2013 and 2012 seasons, Tech will face the Sun Devils this weekend for the first time as conference mates. Arizona State, Utah and Arizona joined the Big 12 Conference this past July after departing the Pac-12 Conference. This weekends series in Phoenix will mark the first of consecutive weekends against the two new Arizona based schools, as Tech will welcome Arizona to Rip Griffin Park next weekend.

HERE COMES ANT

When 2024 Freshman All-American TJ Pompey went down with an injury after the series at Kansas State, Odessa College transfer, Antonelli Savattere has seen an increase in playing time at both DH and second base. Savattere over the last 10 games is now hitting .462 with a home run and seven RBIs. He is 12 for his last 26 and has scored nine runs in his last eight appearances and six starts. He has walked three times been hit by a pitch and just struck out twice. On Sunday against Baylor, Savattere was 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Savattere also walked twice and scored on Friday night and went 1-for-4 on Saturday.

UP NEXT:
The Red Raiders return to action on Monday and Tuesday nights when they play a home-and-home against Abilene Christian. First pitch on Monday from Abilene is set for 6:05 p.m.

Texas Tech University Athletics

Tech heads to Phoenix for first Big 12 series vs. ASU

Players Mentioned

Jack Cebert

Mac Heuer

Trendan Parish

TJ Pompey

Antonelli Savattere

Robin Villeneuve

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