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On Saturday, Texas Tech wrapped up its 2021 regular season campaign on Senior Day in Lubbock with a 5-0 win against the Kansas Jayhawks to win the rubber match of the last series of Big 12 play. It was a great pitching performance from multiple pitchers including Chase Hampton, who made the start in order to give Mason Montgomery some rest before the postseason.
Hampton was sensational allowing only two hits in six innings and a combined effort from Derek Bridges, Brendan Girton, and Connor Queen never let the Jayhawks cross the plate. It was a very special day for Queen, Tech’s lone senior on the roster this year, as he pitched his final regular season game at the collegiate level going an inning and two thirds allowing no hits and only throwing 14 pitches. Connor has been an integral part of the periodically shaky Tech bullpen this season, always coming in and providing a solid outing, so you can bet that we’ll be seeing quite a bit more of him this postseason.
On the offensive side, Nate Rombach, yes that Nate Rombach, led the Red Raiders on Sunday, going two-for-three with three RBIs. Rombach and Cal Conley both homered on the day.
With the win, Tech finishes the regular season with a 35-13 record overall and a 14-10 record in Big 12 play. The Red Raiders preferred the home turf this season, as they finish with a 24-5 record at Dan Law Field. That stat is why hosting a Regional and Super Regional is so important to the Red Raiders this postseason.
In the most current d1 baseball rankings, Tech checks in at number five, behind Tennessee and just ahead of Arizona. However, in an article posted Sunday morning, d1 baseball had Tech checking in at number nine in the postseason seeding, just one spot outside of the national seeds that are guaranteed to host a Regional and Super Regional. In this same article, they had TCU at number seven, even though the Red Raiders took two of three from the Frogs, and run-ruled that team in the rubber match. According to those plugged in to the college baseball scene, that seven seed will either go to TCU or Tech, depending on who has a better showing in OKC at the Big 12 tournament.
In previous years, Tech has not put much stock in the Big 12 tournament and they typically use it as a tune-up for postseason play. Obviously, that is not the case this year and they will have to go further than TCU in order to get that seven seed.
However you choose to look at this season for the Red Raiders, you can’t deny that this has quite possibly been Tim Tadlock’s most impressive coaching performance since he has been the skipper at Tech. You have to remember Tech lost three key arms from its pitching staff before this season even started. Then halfway through they had to shut down both Brandon Birdsell AND Dylan Neuse for the rest of the season. Tech could have easily mailed it in for the rest of the year claiming injuries in a season where the injury bug has bit Tech harder than any year in recent memory, but they didn’t, and here they are in the conversation for a national seed despite all of the injuries. It truly is incredible.
In the Big 12 tournament, Tech will open Wednesday against the Baylor Bears in a 9:00 a.m. matinee that will be available to stream at work or at home or wherever you find yourself spending your days.
Wednesday- 9:00 a.m.- Bricktown Ballpark- Oklahoma City, OK
TV: ESPNU Radio: TTSN
I will check in again after the Big 12 Tournament to breakdown our postseason seed, as well as our Regional matchups.
The time is now Red Raiders. The real games are here. Let’s have a good month on the diamond.
Follow Along
Be sure to follow @vivathematadors and @hubcityhomers for all of your Texas Tech Sports updates, as postseason play heats up @JackBellSpors will have all of the breakdowns for the Red Raiders’ matchups.