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The Texas Tech Red Raiders will be looking to gain some more wins this weekend with the Wichita State Shockers. The Red Raiders are building off of a two game sweep of the San Diego State Aztecs and their game last night against the Shockers.
Ninth inning. Down a run. Two outs. Bases loaded.
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) March 7, 2019
Listen to Wednesday night's call from the Texas Tech Sports Network.
: @SanDiegoPhotog
#WreckEm⚫️ pic.twitter.com/xLWVNTFQsl
The Shockers are 5-6 on the season. They have won two of their last three, and are looking to turn around an less than impressive start to the season. They do have some good hitters in the lineup as the majority of their starting lineup has double-digit hits on the season. They are led by second baseman Luke Ritter. Ritter is hitting .415 on the season and has 2 home runs and 9 RBI. Ritter will bat third in the lineup and is very good at getting on base as he has also drawn 8 walks on the season.
B5 | HOME RUN!
— Wichita St. Baseball (@GoShockersBSB) February 17, 2019
Luke Ritter hits a towering solo shot onto the hill in left field, tying the game, 4-4, with one out in the B5th. #watchus pic.twitter.com/1xqTScWACs
Batting second and playing shortstop is Jordan Boyer. He leads the team in batting average with a .421 on the season. He has batted in 8 RBI and has also hit a home run. He has 16 hits on the season including a triple. Our final hitter outline for this series is first baseman Mason O’Brien. He is hitting .343 on the season with one home run and 6 RBI. O’Brien is good at drawing walks with 8 on the season. He also leads the team with 4 doubles this season. Here’s what I think this lineup will look like this weekend:
- CF Jacob Katzfey
- SS Jordan Boyer
- 2B Luke Ritter
- 3B Paxton Wallace
- 1B Mason O’Brien
- RF Hunter Gibson
- C Ross Cadena
- DH Brady Slavens
- LF Alex Jackson
The pitching staff for the Shockers is pretty good as well. Here is who I predict they will start in each game of the series:
Game 1: RHP Clayton McGinness
Season Stats:
0-2 5.62 ERA 16.0 IP 14 K/6 BB
Back-to-back Ks for @GoShockersBSB's Clayton McGinness!
— American Baseball (@American_BSB) May 24, 2018
USF leads 4-1 in the T7th#AmericanBSB Championship presented by @VSPC pic.twitter.com/SCBSZEezsB
Game 2: RHP Preston Snavely
Season Stats:
1-1 5.09 ERA 17.2 IP 16 K/6 BB
Nice grab by Preston Snavely gets him out of a jam in the 3rd. Shocks lead 1-0 middle of 3. pic.twitter.com/IaG8zaS4mg
— Wichita St. Baseball (@GoShockersBSB) May 6, 2018
Game 3: RHP Liam Eddy
Season Stats:
1-1 2.60 ERA 17.1 IP 3 K/5 BB
G2 FINAL | Wichita State 4, Creighton 3. The Shockers win their 4th in a row, and sweep the DH against the Bluejays today. Liam Eddy (2-1) tossed 3.2 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win, while Paxton Wallace had a 2B and 2 RBI. #watchus | @Chick_N_Max pic.twitter.com/7jErUuKNFu
— Wichita St. Baseball (@GoShockersBSB) March 2, 2019
These three are all solid pitchers for this team. Their two best relievers are Cal Carver, who has a 2-0 record and a 4.09 ERA and Aaron Haase who has made 4 relief appearances. There are also other pitchers without too many innings that make appearances for this team.
FINAL | Jacob Katzfey makes a diving catch in center to give the Shockers an 8-6 victory over UT Arlington today! Luke Ritter had a 2-run HR (2), & Jordan Boyer had 3 hits. W - Cal Carver (1-0, 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 SO); SV - Mitchell Walters (1).#watchus | @Chick_N_Max pic.twitter.com/qSP5R6C0ne
— Wichita St. Baseball (@GoShockersBSB) February 24, 2019
The Red Raiders will throw the regular three weekend starters out there this weekend, starting off with Erikson Lanning. Caleb Kilian might be on thin ice this weekend as he hasn’t performed up to his regular self so far this season. The bats should look the same for the Red Raiders as the lineup hasn’t changed much since the beginning of the season.
I think this series shouldn’t be that close. The Red Raiders have a bit of momentum and are looking to dominate a team that is struggling right now. Do you think the Red Raiders can do it? Let us know in the comment section below!