Red Raider baseball returns to Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park this weekend as No. 10 Texas Tech baseball welcomes Houston Baptist to town for a three-game series, running Friday through Sunday.
Friday's home opener and Saturday's first pitch are both set for 2 p.m., while the Sunday finale begins at 1 p.m.
All three games will be available on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. As always, fans can listen via the Texas Tech Sports Network and the TuneIn app.
TICKETS & RIP GRIFFIN PARK ATTENDANCE POLICIES
Texas Tech announced Thursday attendance plans for Rip Griffin Park, which includes a reduced capacity. Those attending Red Raider baseball home games in 2021 are required to follow CDC guidelines inside Rip Griffin Park. Face coverings will be required. Gates open one hour prior to first pitch.
As a result of a reduced stadium capacity, season tickets have sold out. Returned tickets may be available on an individual-game basis and will be released to the general public for purchase two days prior to its scheduled date. Tech students tickets will be general admission and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Students can simply swipe a valid Texas Tech student ID for entry.
WEEKEND PRIMER
For just the second time in 13 years, Tech began its season away from home. The Red Raiders (0-3) took part in a clash of six top-10 teams at the inaugural State Farm College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington. Despite coming up short, all three games featured one-run battles into the ninth inning.
Houston Baptist (1-2) comes to Lubbock after opening its campaign with a three-game series at Rice. The Huskies started the year with an extra-inning win over the Owls before dropping the next two contests late.
Last year, the two clubs kicked off the season with a pair of matchups in what was a four-game opening weekend. Tech earned a 5-1 win on Opening Day behind stellar pitching performances from Clayton Beeter and Micah Dallas. The Red Raiders then erupted for a 24-3 run-rule win Saturday, highlighted by three home runs and seven RBI from Nate Rombach.
PITCHING MATCHUPS
RHP Brandon Birdsell (0-0, 13.50 ERA) vs. RHP Tyler Zarella (0-0, 7.20 ERA
LHP Patrick Monteverde (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Jacob Coats (0-0, 5.40 ERA)
LHP Mason Montgomery (0-0, 2.25 ERA) vs. LHP Austin Spinney (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
TECH IN HOME OPENERS
The Red Raiders begin their home schedule this weekend where they went 11-0 during the COVID-shortened season in 2020. Texas Tech is 33-3 all-time in home openers, including wins in 20 of its last 22 debuts.
Tech has also been historically strong in its home opening series, going 36-4 overall since 2010, finishing no worse than 2-1 during that time. Texas Tech is 6-2 all-time in home openers under Tadlock and 21-3 in home-opening series.
SEASON OUTLOOK
The 2020 Red Raiders started out 16-1, including a 2-0 road sweep at No. 9 Florida State, on their way to a No. 1 ranking for the first time since the 1997 season. Tadlock's crew looked built to not only get back to Omaha for the third straight year, but to finish the job. As it does every year, Tech had to replace some key pieces in Josh Jung, Cameron Warren and Gabe Holt in the lineup as well as Saturday starter Caleb Kilian. But with six position starters returning and an impressive group of freshmen ready to step in, the offense didn't skip a beat. On the mound, Clayton Beeter went from closer to ace, Bryce Bonnin showed development, and the rest of the pitching staff proved to be a dynamic force early on.
Tech heads into 2021 looking to replace a key bat with the departure of senior Brian Klein, but much like 2020, returns a wealth of experience with eight position starters returning from last year and several more who have seen regular playing time in their careers. On the mound, Micah Dallas and Mason Montgomery will look to anchor two of the starting roles early on. The bullpen is deep once again with several talented arms. Watch out for a freshman class that has earned comparisons from Tadlock to his 2016 group of freshmen that featured Davis Martin, Steven Gingery, Ryan Shetter and Ty Harpenau.
THE RED RAIDERS
SENIORS: Two players are in their final years of eligibility in veteran relief pitcher Connor Queen and graduate transfer Patrick Monteverde, the Seton Hill transfer who receives the Opening Day start.
JUNIORS: There are nine members of the junior class with two years of eligibility remaining. All nine were members of the team last season, headlined by Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year Dylan Neuse. This will be the fourth year on campus for four of these juniors, including Braxton Fulford, Parker Kelly, Cody Masters, Ryan Sublette and Kurt Wilson.
SOPHOMORES: The sophomore class consists of 12 members, including eight returners and four transfers. This will be year three in the program for several mainstays such as Micah Dallas, Mason Montgomery, Dru Baker, Cole Stilwell and Max Marusak. Tech's top-ranked JUCO class features RHP Brandon Birdsell, LHP Brandon Petix, INF/OF Braydon Runion and RHP Chase Webster.
"FRESHMEN": Call them what you want, but this group packs plenty of firepower. Cal Conley, Jace Jung, Nate Rombach and Dillon Carter all earned starting roles to open the 2020 season. Andrew Devine also showed dynamic stuff in a closing role.
FRESHMEN: Tech welcomes 14 first-year freshmen to the mix from a class that finished at No. 17 by D1Baseball. Tadlock and crew placed an emphasis on adding quality arms with 11 of the 14 additions coming on the mound.
The Link Lonk
February 26, 2021 at 10:19AM
https://texastech.com/news/2021/2/25/baseball-no-10-red-raiders-set-for-home-opener.aspx
No. 10 Red Raiders Set for Home Opener - Texas Tech Red Raiders - TexasTech.com
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