The Texas Tech baseball team is still trying to get through its season this week, opening Big 12 Tournament play in Arlington on Tuesday.
Tech (31-24) and Texas (35-20) will meet in the final of four first-round games at Globe Life Field on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The Red Raiders are the No. 10 seed in the 10-team field and the Longhorns are the No. 3 seed.
Tech has lost 11 of its last 13 regular season games, including its last eight Big 12 games. This steep drop and their 58th-ranked RPI will require the Red Raiders to win the conference tournament and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA regionals. The Red Raiders last missed the NCAA Tournament in 2015, when they finished 31-24.
Tech and Texas State began their conference schedule facing each other in Lubbock from March 9-11. The Red Raiders lost the first game 22-8, won the second game 7-2, but lost the final game 9-7.
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Tuesday’s other first-round games are No. 6 seed Kansas State (31-22) vs. No. 7 Kansas State (29-21) and No. 4 seed West Virginia (33-20) vs. No. TCU is the 9th seed. Fifth-seeded Cincinnati (31-19) will play at 12:30 p.m. and eighth-seeded Central Florida (33-18) at 4 p.m.
The top two seeds, Oklahoma (34-18) and Oklahoma State (36-16), have first-round byes.
If Tech wins against Texas, the Red Raiders will play Oklahoma State on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. If Tech loses to Texas, the Red Raiders will play the loser of Cincinnati vs. UCF on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
This week’s USA TODAY Sports Top 25 Coaches Poll has Oklahoma ranked 11th, Oklahoma State 17th and Texas 24th among Big 12 teams.
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Tech center fielder Damien Bravo (.384 batting average, four home runs, 43 RBIs) led the Big 12 in batting average despite being bothered by a wrist injury the past two months. Five other Tech players have at least 40 RBIs: third baseman Cade McGee (286-14-51), first baseman Gavin Kash (305-14-49), and second baseman TJ Pompey (290). -10-49), left fielder Drew Woodcox (.333-13-47) and right fielder Austin Green (.331-7-42).
Catcher Kevin Buzzell (.312-6-31) was a second-team All-Big 12 honoree announced Monday.
Texas right fielder Max Bellew (.341-17-49) was named Big 12 Player of the Year. Other UT players who made the All-Big 12 first team were first baseman Jared Thomas (363-14, 44), shortstop Jarrin Flores (348-17, 50), and reliever Gage. – Boehm (5 wins, 2 losses, earned run average 2.91). average, 8 saves).
How to watch Texas Tech Baseball vs. Texas
when: Tuesday 7:30pm
where: Globe Life Field (Arlington)
record: Texas Tech 31-24, Texas 35-20
Rankings in USA TODAY Sports’ Top 25 Coaches Poll: Texas Tech is unranked, Texas 24th.
RPI ranking: Texas Tech No. 58; Texas No. 39
Starting pitcher: To be announced.
Online streaming: ESPN+
12 major baseball tournament schedule
At Globe Life Field in Arlington
Seed, record in parentheses
Tuesday’s first round
Kansas State (6) (31-22) vs. Kansas State (7) (29-21), 9 a.m.
West Virginia (33-20) (4) vs. TCU (9) (31-19), 12:30 p.m.
Cincinnati (5) (31-23) vs. Central Florida (8) (33-18), 4 p.m.
Texas (3) (35-20) vs. Texas Tech (10) (31-24), 7:30 p.m.
