Baylor Baseball Welcomes No. 9 Texas Tech to Waco For a Big Weekend Series

WACO, Texas – Baylor baseball (21-20, 4-11) takes on conference opponent No. 9 Texas Tech (29-15, 9-6) for a three-game set this weekend at Baylor Ballpark. Games are slated for 6:30 P.M. Friday, 3:00 P.M. Saturday, and 1:00 P.M. Sunday (ESPN+).

BAYLOR BEARS - (#57 RPI Ranking & #6 Strength of Schedule)

2022 Record: 21-20

2022 Big 12 Record: 4-11

Head Coach: Steve Rodriguez 

• Career Record: 593-439 (19th season) 
• Record at Baylor: 192-139 (7th season) 

2022 STAT LEADERS 

Jack Mackenzie - SicEm365

Pineda Warms up before the UIW game

AVG: Tre Richardson (.313)

H: Jack Pineda & Tre Richardson (51)

2B: Jack Pineda (13)

HR: Kyle Nevin (8)

RBI: Kyle Nevin (39)

R: Tre Richardson (46)

OB%: Tre Richardson (.409)

BB: Tre Richardson (24)

SB: Jack Pineda (8)

No. 9 Texas Tech Red Raiders - (#46 RPI Ranking & #70 Strength of Schedule)

2022 Record: 29-15

2022 Big 12 Record: 9-6

Head Coach: Tim Tadlock 

• Career Record: 356-172 (10th season)
• Record at Texas Tech: 356-172 (10th season)

2022 STAT LEADERS 

Texas Tech Athletics

Jace Jung has been crushing it for the Red Raiders this year

AVG: Jace Jung (.371)

H: Jace Jung (59)

2B: Jace Jung (17)

HR: Jace Jung (11)

RBI: Kurt Wilson (53)

R: Jace Jung (55)

OB%: Jace Jung (.516)

BB: Jace Jung (47)

SB: Jace Jung (4)

Probable Starting Fielders: Baylor

C: So. Harrison Caley (.310, 14 R, 31 H, 3 2B, 11 RBI, 14 BB, .405 OB%)

1B: So. Kyle Nevin (.291, 30 R, 48 H, 11 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 39 RBI, 18 BB, .354 OB%) 

2B: So. Tre Richardson (.313, 46 R, 51 H, 9 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 26 RBI, 24 BB, 5 SB, .409 OB%)

3B: Sr. Esteban Oquendo-Cardoza (.235, 22 R, 32 H, 8 2B, 18 RBI, 13 BB, .340 OB%)

SS: Jr. Jack Pineda (.290, 44 R, 51 H, 13 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR, 29 RBI, 20 BB, 8 SB, .381 OB%)

LF: So. Alex Gonzales (.184, 11 R, 16 H, 3 2B, 10 RBI, 6 BB, .250 OB%)

CF: So. Jared McKenzie (.310, 26 R, 49 H, 11 2B, 3B, 7 H, 30 RBI, 19 BB, 3 SB, .406 OB%)

RF: So. Cam Caley (.385, 2 R, 5 H, 2 2B, 2 RBI, .429 OB%)

DH: Fr. Casen Neumann (.314, 12 R, 16 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 11 BB, .446 OB%)

Probable Starting Pitchers

BU SP1: RHP Jake Jackson (3-3, 8.92 ERA) 

TT SP1: RHP Andrew Morris (5-0, 3.70 ERA)

BU SP2: LHP Kobe Andrade (3-2, 4.50 ERA)

TT SP2: RHP Brandon Birdsell (6-2, 2.17 ERA)

BU SP3: RHP Blake Helton (0-1, 5.40 ERA)

TT SP3: RHP Chase Hampton (3-3, 5.91 ERA)

TOP QUOTES

Jared McKenzie on the injuries piling up

“You know it’s tough. I mean those guys come out here every day and try and work hard and you know it’s something they can’t control. So at the end of the day, the same thing happened last year. We had Covid issues pop up and this year it's injuries and it’s one of those things where it’s just an unfortunate card you were dealt.”

Tre Richardson on controlling what you can control

Baylor Athletics

“The biggest thing, especially with this sport, is its individual but at the same time, you won’t win too many games if you think individually. We preach to the guys all the time being able to understand your role and do your job. Everything will go in place because we got nine guys out there. If someone doesn't do their thing on bunt coverage, then the whole play falls apart. So just understanding you have to do your job. You have to take care of your situation and your position and everyone will kind of fall into place under that mindset”

Coach Rodriguez on facing Texas Tech this weekend

“They are obviously very talented. Offensively, they can really hit. Starting pitching is very good. And their bullpen can really throw. They have some power arms that come out of the bullpen. Our goal right now is just, depending on the weather, to go out there and minimize everything that their offense is capable of doing and let our offense hopefully take form out of the gate. ”

What I Am Looking For This Weekend

• The energy. How is this team going to come out after being swept by Texas, then managing a thrilling comeback victory over UIW? Are they mentally exhausted or did they turn a corner?
• The starting pitching is a big question mark this weekend. Without Will Rigney and Tyler Thomas, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will be getting time on the mound. 
• All three of Tech’s weekend starters are right-handed pitchers, hopefully, that leads the way for Casen Neumann to get three consecutive starts. He needs to be in the lineup every day. 

Quick Side Notes

• Tyler Thomas is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery and will be out for the remainder of the season. 
• Will Rigney underwent further testing yesterday. The team is still awaiting word on those results. 
• Chase Wehsener was diagnosed with a broken hand and will be re-evaluated in four weeks. 
• Coach Rod mentioned that some guys will be out this weekend due to illness. That is something else to keep an eye on moving forward. 
• Blake Helton will make his return to the mound on Sunday but is on a limit restriction. 
• RPI and SOS rankings were last updated last at 8:00 A.M. 4/28