Texas Tech baseball heads to Fort Worth for a key Big 12 road series against TCU, where slowing Sawyer Strosnider could decide the weekend.
Texas Tech baseball heads to Fort Worth this weekend for a Big 12 series that feels bigger than late March. The Red Raiders have built momentum at 16-8 overall and 4-2 in conference play, but a trip to TCU has been a problem spot for years.
If Texas Tech wants to keep climbing in the league race, it’ll likely have to cool off one of the hottest hitters in the conference.
That challenge starts with Sawyer Strosnider. The TCU sophomore outfielder has been on a tear, blasting five home runs and driving in 15 runs over his last five games.
He’s also been the Horned Frogs’ most dangerous bat all season, leading the club in average (.313), homers (nine), RBIs (33), hits (25), runs (31), walks (24), and OPS (1.211). For Texas Tech pitchers, there’s no mystery about where the danger lies.
The Red Raiders do bring plenty of offense of their own.
Freshman Jesse Rusinek has been a major spark, hitting .441 with a .542 on-base percentage, one home run, 17 RBIs, three triples, and eight stolen bases. His emergence has added another layer to a lineup that just handled New Mexico in a run-rule win and took two of three on the road at Arizona.
There’s also a personal wrinkle here: Rusinek and Strosnider were high school teammates at Brock, which adds a little extra intrigue to the weekend.
Texas Tech knows this won’t be easy.
The Red Raiders have lost eight of their last 11 games at Lupton Stadium dating back to 2016, and TCU has taken two of three in each of the last two regular-season meetings.
Still, the Horned Frogs enter this series at 14-10 and 2-4 in Big 12 play, and injuries have played a role in their uneven start.
That opens the door for Tech. If the Red Raiders get enough pitching and keep Strosnider from taking over, this is a road series they can absolutely win.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community for FREE! Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable App to stay even more connected!