Preview, how to watch Texas Tech baseball at Arizona State, vs. UNLV

don williams, lubbock avalanche-journal

Thu, May 16, 2024, 11:14 AM·4 min read

The Texas Tech baseball team has reached a point where the Red Raiders have to win every game or else. Not this week, but next week for sure.

"We've already addressed it: It's a game you go win and if you keep winning, you get to keep playing," Tech coach Tim Tadlock said Tuesday. "I think we've all accepted that at this point."

Tech will be the lowest seed in the 10-team Big 12 tournament that starts Tuesday in Arlington. Tech's only way into an NCAA regional seemingly is to win the tournament and the automatic bid next week at Globe Life Field.

Whereas all the other Big 12 teams are ending conference play against one another this week, Tech is the odd team out on the Big 12 schedule and is finishing the regular season with non-conference games in Arizona. The Red Raiders face Arizona State at 8:30 p.m. CDT Thursday, Nevada-Las Vegas at 3 p.m. Friday and Arizona State at 8:30 p.m. Friday. All the games are at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

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After Tech received the Big 12 schedule showing its open dates on the last weekend, Tadlock said, "We dug around, looked around the country to find some games. Between Arizona State and UNLV, I think they were playing in Tempe, and they let us jump in there and play a few games. That way we don't have a full week off."

Compared to a normal Big 12 weekend, Tech is starting one day earlier and finishing two days earlier. The Red Raiders' first-round game in the conference tournament will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday against the No. 3 seed, which could be any of five teams.

With the tighter time frames, rotation regulars Ryan Free and Kyle Robinson probably won't start games in Arizona, Tadlock said, and will pitch only short stints.

"We probably won't extend anybody to the extent where they couldn't come back (and pitch) on Tuesday or Wednesday," Tadlock said.

Freshman righthander Parker Hutyra (4-2, 2.40 earned-run average) will start Thursday's game against Arizona State after making his first 19 career appearances in relief.

Mac Heuer, who came out of his last start May 5 with lat-muscle irritation, has since "played catch, but he hasn't really tried to throw the ball hard yet," Tadlock said.

Asked about Heuer's availability for the Big 12 tournament, Tadlock said, "That's what you're hoping for. Hoping to be able to (go) short stints next week."

Pitcher Trendan Parish, sidelined by an arm problem since April 1, is close to a return.

"I think Trendan's going on the trip," Tadlock said, "which is more than he has been doing, and he's been throwing bullpens. We should be able to get an inning out of him, maybe two."

How to watch Texas Tech baseball at Arizona State, vs. UNLV

When: Texas Tech at Arizona State, 8:30 p.m. CDT Thursday; Texas Tech vs. Nevada-Las Vegas, 3 p.m. Friday; Texas Tech at Arizona State, 8:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Phoenix Municipal Stadium

Records: Texas Tech 30-22, Arizona State 29-24, Nevada-Las Vegas 26-24

Ranking in USA TODAY Sports Top 25 coaches poll: All three teams unranked.

RPI ranking: Texas Tech No. 54; Arizona State No. 82; UNLV No. 223

Starting pitchers: Thursday, Arizona State LHP Ben Jacobs (7-2, 4.63 earned-run average) vs. Texas Tech RHP Parker Hutyra (4-2, 2.40). Friday and Saturday, starters to be announced.

Online streaming: All games on Pac-12 Arizona.