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Oklahoma (25-17, 5-7) vs. No. 21 Texas Tech (32-13, 8-7) |
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Location: |
Norman, Okla. - L. Dale Mitchell Park (3,180) |
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Radio: |
KREF Sports Talk 1400 AM / 98.5 FM |
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TV: |
FOX Sports Southwest (Fri.) |
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Game Info: |
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Pitching Match-Ups |
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6:30 PM Friday: |
LHP-Adam Choplick (RSo., 3-4, 4.05) |
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12:00 PM Saturday: |
LHP-Jacob Evans (So., 3-2, 3.89) |
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2:00 PM Sunday: |
TBA |
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Oklahoma is in Lubbock, TX this weekend for a crucial series against the Red Raiders. While the Sooners have been falling in the conference standings, Texas Tech has been on the rise. Currently riding a three-game Big XII winning streak, the Red Raiders are sitting in fourth place at 8-7 with Oklahoma in fifth at 5-7.
The Sooners have lost back-to-back conference series and are in desperate need of a momentum swing to change the course of their season. Standing in their way is a Tech line up that is batting a Big XII fourth best .286 and a pitching staff that has the third best team ERA at 3.19 for the year.
Eric Gutierrez leads the Red Raiders in batting with an average of .329 on the year. He's driven in a team-high 37 RBI and has knock seven home runs this season. Gutierrez is joined by Stephen Smith as the only other Red Raider who is currently hitting above .300 on the year. Smith is currently at .309 and has driven in 13 runs this season.
The Sooners will counter Tech's offense with a change in their pitching rotation. Adam Choplick (3-4, 4.05) will move to the game one starter, with Jacob Evans (3-2, 3.89) taking that start in game two and a big question mark for game three. There's a strong possibility that Ralph Garza, Jr. (5-1, 2.36) would get the start on Sunday, if Coach Hughes opts not to bring him out of the bullpen on Friday or Saturday. Oklahoma's team ERA is 3.47 on the year, placing them just behind Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders are young on the mound but still very strong. They will bookend two freshmen around junior Chris Sadberry (3-1, 2.47), and throw their best arm on Sunday, Dylan Dusek (Fr., 5-0, 2.31), with the hopes of closing out a series win.
Oklahoma's offense has been hot and cold over the last couple of weeks and will certainly need to be spot on this weekend. Led by Mac James, the Sooners are fifth in the Big XII in team batting at .284 this season. James is hitting .371 and has gone yard five times this season. He's joined by freshman Sheldon Neuse at hitting above .300 on the year. Neuse is at .304 and has homered four times. Both James and Neuse are tied for a team-high 33 RBI on the year.
Oklahoma's series against Texas Tech will be broadcast on Fox Sports Southwest, Fox Sports-Central, and Fox Sports-Plus.
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