Preview, how to watch Texas Tech baseball vs. West Virginia
Don WilliamsThe Texas Tech baseball team recently put together a season-best eight-game win streak. That was followed immediately by a four-game losing streak, a skid with no surefire guarantee of ending this weekend.
Tech hosts West Virginia, which is No. 24 in this week's USA TODAY Coaches Top 25 poll and No. 2 in this week's Big 12 baseball power rankings. The Mountaineers have won seven Big 12 games in a row, including series sweeps the past two weekends at Kansas and at home against Central Florida.
Tech (26-13, 9-9) and WVU (23-13, 11-4) play at 6:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
The Mountaineers are tied with Oklahoma (21-14, 11-4) for the Big 12 lead.
All-American middle infielder J.J. Wetherholt returned two weeks ago after missing 26 games with a hamstring injury, and Mountaineers pitching has been anchored by starters Aidan Major and Big 12 ERA leader Derek Clark, the latter having gone nine innings in four consecutive appearances.
WVU shared the Big 12 title last year, and would love to do even better with coach Randy Mazey retiring at the end of this season.
"They've got a really good team," Tech coach Tim Tadlock said Thursday. "Coach Mazey's done a really good job for a long time. They've probably got one of the better hitters we'll see. They've pitched it pretty good. They've played good. They've kind of duplicated what they had last year on Saturday with an older guy that can really pitch, it looks like."
Related:Parker Hutyra fielding error part of Texas Tech baseball road loss to No. 2 Arkansas
Related:Texas Tech baseball lets another late lead slip away against Arkansas
Tech is coming off 9-8 and 5-4 losses this week at No. 2 Arkansas.
Tech's pitching staff has been thinned by the absences of righthanders Zane Petty and Trendan Parish and lefthander Taber Fast. Tadlock said Thursday that Petty will miss the rest of the season, and Fast is in ramp-up mode: "starting to throw — as in build up, play catch."
Parish's return was projected last week at six weeks, though Tadlock described that as a "pretty aggressive" timeline assuming the ability to stay on a daily rehabilitation schedule with no setbacks. Asked if Parish could return around Big 12 or NCAA tournament time, Tadlock replied, "At best, I would say."
All are arm-related injuries.
"You could pair that with all the Major League stuff, right?" Tadlock said, referring to the many high-profile pitchers currently sidelined by arm injuries.
Fast last pitched on March 13, Petty on March 19 and Parish on April 1.
How to watch Texas Tech baseball vs. West Virginia
When: 6:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday
Where: Dan Law Field/Rip Griffin Park
Records: West Virginia 23-13, 11-4 in the Big 12; Texas Tech 26-13, 9-9
Ranking in USA TODAY Sports Top 25 coaches poll: West Virginia No. 24, Texas Tech receiving votes.
RPI ranking: West Virginia No. 26, Texas Tech No. 33
Starting pitchers: Friday, Texas Tech LHP Ryan Free (4-0, 5.63 earned-run average) vs. West Virginia RHP Aidan Major (3-2, 4.56). Saturday, Texas Tech RHP Kyle Robinson (3-4, 4.13) vs. West Virginia LHP Derek Clark (4-0, 2.15). Sunday, Texas Tech RHP Mac Heuer (3-3, 5.50) vs. West Virginia starter to be announced.
TV/Online streaming: All games on ESPN+.
Texas Tech baseball recent results, upcoming schedule
Home games in ALL CAPS. Asterisk (*) denotes Big 12 game.
April 12: at TCU*, W 7-1
Saturday: at TCU*, L 4-2
Sunday: at TCU*, L 4-3
Tuesday: at Arkansas, L 9-8
Wednesday: at Arkansas, L 5-4
Friday: WEST VIRGINIA*, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday: WEST VIRGINIA*, 2 p.m.
Sunday: WEST VIRGINIA*, 1 p.m.
Tuesday: NEW MEXICO, 2 p.m.
April 26: at Kansas*, 6:30 p.m.
April 27: at Kansas*, 2 p.m.
April 28: at Kansas*, 1 p.m.
