Texas Tech baseball returns to Lubbock for a key Big 12 series against No. 17 West Virginia as the Red Raiders lean on a red-hot offense and rotation changes.
Texas Tech baseball heads into a huge Big 12 series this weekend with momentum, offensive confidence and a chance to make up ground in the conference race.
The Red Raiders return to Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park to face No. 17 West Virginia in a three-game set that could say a lot about where this team stands in mid-April.
At 19-13 overall and 5-7 in Big 12 play, Texas Tech is still trying to climb out of the crowded middle of the league standings.
West Virginia arrives at 22-7 and 8-4, making this one of the Red Raiders’ better chances to earn a statement series win at home.
The biggest reason Texas Tech remains dangerous is simple ... this lineup keeps scoring. Through 32 games, the Red Raiders have already piled up 338 runs, nearly matching last season’s full-year total.
They’ve been especially explosive in Lubbock, where they’re hitting .397 as a team and have scored 238 runs at home. That kind of production has changed the tone of the season.
A lot of that damage has come in bunches. Texas Tech has posted 49 innings of three or more runs, already topping last year’s season total in that category.
Even more impressive, many of those big innings have come without relying on the long ball, a sign this offense can pressure opponents in multiple ways.
There are individual storylines worth watching, too. Tracer Lopez is up to 202 career hits and continues to climb the program record book while batting .307 with 12 doubles and 23 RBIs this season.
Jesse Rusinek has been a two-way force, co-leading the club with a .426 average while also piling up 16 strikeouts in 12.1 innings on the mound. Connor Shouse has delivered power with 8 home runs and 46 RBIs, while also giving Tech useful relief innings.
On the mound, Texas Tech is reshuffling things a bit. Jackson Burns, who has struck out 23 batters over his last 20.2 innings, moves into the Saturday starter role, and Adam Hayes gets a weekend opportunity after a strong stretch in midweek action.
For Texas Tech, this series feels bigger than one weekend. Beat a ranked West Virginia club at home, and the Big 12 picture starts looking a whole lot better.
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