Texas Tech takes on Oklahoma in a top-25 showdown

#5 Texas Tech Red Raiders vs #22 Oklahoma Sooners

Game times

April 20 (Fri) 2:00 PM

April 21 (Sat) 2:00 PM

April 22 (Sun) 2:00 PM

Probable starters

Friday: RHP Davis Martin (6-2, 2.35 ERA) vs RHP Jake Irvin (5-0, 2.96 ERA)

Saturday: RHP Caleb Kilian (5-1, 1.27 ERA) vs RHP Devon Perez (4-0, 2.78 ERA)

Sunday: RHP John McMillon (4-1, 3.32 ERA) vs RHP Nathan Wiles (3-2, 3.32 ERA)

The matchup

The Red Raiders return home this weekend for a three game series with the Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners come to Lubbock 26-13 (9-3) after dropping a series 1-2 to the Texas Longhorns. Tech comes in 30-8 (8-4) on a four game winning streak after sweeping the Kansas State Wildcats at home.

The Red Raiders are on a hot streak after putting up 76 runs in four games behind the bats of Josh Jung and Grant Little. Jung went 5/5 against New Mexico, marking the sixth time in Texas Tech history a play hit for the series.

The Sooners suffered their first series loss of the season against the Longhorns last weekend but have had four days to prepare for the Red Raiders. The Sooner bats average .285 this season with five players hitting above average.

Players to watch

Junior OF Steele Walker leads the Sooners with a .338 batting average. In 145 at-bats, he’s recorded 35 runs on 49 hits. He also 37 RBIs and nine home runs, making Walker one of the deadliest hitters in the Big 12.

Junior IF Brylie Ware also has 49 hits and is batting .331. In 148 at-bats he’s put up 17 runs and 29 RBIs. He hasn’t hit a home run this season but recorded five in 2017

The prediction

Texas Tech hits the meat of the Big 12 schedule this week. OU struggled last week but should be more than prepared for Tech after having a few days off with no midweek game. On paper Texas Tech is just a little better than OU in nearly all aspects of the game. Tech’s pitchers have lower ERAs and the batters have higher averages. Add in the fact that the Red Raider bats are en fuego right now, I think Tech will win the series but Oklahoma is too good to get swept by anyone.

Tech wins the series 2-1

Friday: 15-7 TTU

Saturday: 9-6 OU

Sunday: 12-5 TTU