No. 12 Tech searching for first win, host Houston Baptist for three-game set

The Texas Tech baseball team is in unfamiliar territory.

For the first time in almost three decades, the Red Raiders are winless after their first three games of the season.

Texas Tech, ranked No. 12 at the start of the week, dropped an 11-5 decision to No. 8 Mississippi State to close out the College Baseball Showdown inside Globe Life Field in Arlington.

"Probably the biggest thing is that I just didn't feel like, I myself, did a very good job of preparing the guys," Texas Tech coach Tim Tadlock said postgame Monday, "didn't feel like we were playing at a high level — really the whole weekend. And that's on me."

The Red Raiders, searching for their first win of the season, are set to take on Houston Baptist in a three-game series starting with a 2 p.m. Friday Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park. The second and third contests are set for 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday, respectively.

The Huskies, who are in the midst of a 15-game road stretch to start the season, won their season opener before dropping the next two in a three-game set against Rice.

Houston Baptist (1-2) will look to snap a two-game losing streak when it is expected to send Tyler Zarella to start the opening contest. The sophomore right-handed hurler owns a 7.20 ERA as he allowed four earned runs in five innings. He's expected to be followed by senior righthander Jacob Coats (5.40 ERA, 0-0) and junior lefthander Austin Spinney (0.00 ERA, 0-0) to the mound.

On offense. Sebastian Trinidad leads the way with a .500 average — securing five hits, which included three RBI. Nathan Soriano leads the team with four RBI.

On the other side, the Red Raiders will look to counter with several hurlers with starting potential.

Patrick Monteverde was named the opening-day starter and turned in a solid performance, striking out five and allowing one hit in four innings of work. The lefty also walked two and tossed one wild pitch. Mason Montgomery also threw four innings in the first weekend, giving up three hits and issuing two walks in four innings.

The offense could see an uptick against a Huskies squad that was outscored 17-11 last weekend.

A key for the Red Raiders will be learning to secure hits in critical situations — which amounted to a 10-for-32 clip over the three-game set in Arlington.

In its final game of the College Baseball Showdown, Texas Tech went 0-for-2 with the bases loaded, left 13 runners on base and finished 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position before dropping the contest to Mississippi State on Monday.

The Red Raiders stranded two runners in the third inning and left the bases loaded in the fifth and sixth.

"Hitting with men in scoring position reveals your approach," Tadlock said following the loss. "And the better your approach is, the better you'll hit with men in scoring position. I'll tell you again, that's on me. The guy's approach wasn't great."

Attendance policy

Due to precautions taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park will be at a reduced capacity to begin the 2021 Texas Tech baseball season, via a Texas Tech news release.

The result means season tickets for the upcoming season are sold out.

Returned ticket inventory that remains unclaimed two days prior to a home game will be released at that time to the general public for purchase, according to a Texas Tech news release. Fans looking to secure a single-game ticket should visit TexasTech.com. 

Student tickets will be general admission and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Students must swipe a valid Texas Tech student ID for entry. Student seating will be located in general admission areas as in years prior.

All tickets for the 2021 season will be delivered digitally. 

Those who receive tickets are required to follow CDC guidelines — face coverings (over the nose and mouth) will be required for all spectators and gameday workers inside Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park. Guests may remove face coverings while actively eating or drinking.

Directional signage, stanchions and barriers will be installed to facilitate six-foot social distancing at entry gates, concourse pathways, concessions and merchandise queues and seating areas. Physical distancing will be maintained throughout the facility to the fullest extent possible.

As a reminder, season ticket holders who are unable to attend a game in which they have tickets are encouraged to utilize Texas Tech's mobile ticketing transfer platform to ensure their seats are used on gameday.

TEXAS TECH VS. HOUSTON BAPTIST

When: 2 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. Sunday

Where: Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park

Records: Texas Tech 0-3. Houston Baptist 1-2

Online stream: ESPN+

Radio: FM 97.3

Twitter updates: Follow Carlos Silva Jr. at @cmsilvajr

Notable: The Red Raiders are 0-3 in their first three contests for the first time since 1994.