Baylor Baseball: BSB Readies for Big Series at No. 5 Texas Tech

Thu Apr 22 16:21:03 CDT 2021

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – April 22, 2021

Baseball Readies for Big Series at No. 5 Texas Tech
The Bears and Red Raiders will begin the series on Friday at 6:30 p.m. in Lubbock
Game Notes: http://baylorbea.rs/3r9TtUN
For more information contact: Zach Rhodes, 919-247-7585, Zach_Rhodes at baylor.edu

LUBBOCK, Texas – The Baylor baseball team is set for a Big 12 matchup with No. 5 Texas Tech April 23-25 at Rip Griffin Park in Lubbock, Texas. The Bears (24-12, 5-7 Big 12) look to build momentum after winning its last two conference series, while the Red Raiders (26-8, 7-5 Big 12) are coming off a series win against West Virginia.

The Red Raiders lead the all-time series against the Bears 89-83, with the last meeting coming on April 18-20, 2019 in Lubbock, where Tech took the series after winning on Saturday and Sunday. TTU has a 56-27 record at home against the Bears, while head coach Steve Rodriguez is 5-8 against the Red Raiders.

SERIES INFO
Date: April 23-25 (Fri.-Sun.)
Game Times: 6:30 p.m./2 p.m./2 p.m.
Site: Lubbock, Texas / (Rip Griffin Park, 4,432)
TV: Big 12 Now (ESPN+)
Radio: ESPN 1660/92.3 FM (Fri. & Sun.), 1590/99.3FM (Sat.)
• Talent: Ryan Boyd (pxp), Chois Woodard (color)
Live Stats: TexasTech.com
Twitter Updates: @BaylorBaseball
Series History: TTU leads, 89-83
                        Streak: TTU, W2
                        First Meeting: 1928
                        Last Meeting: April 18-20, 2019 (TTU won series)
                        Under Rodriguez: 5-8

PITCHING MATCHUP
Fri. April 23 – LHP Tyler Thomas (4-2, 1.95 ERA) vs. LHP Patrick Monteverde (6-1, 2.24 ERA)
Sat. April 24 – RHP Hayden Kettler (3-2, 3.99 ERA) vs. RHP Micah Dallas (1-2, 3.66 ERA)
Sun. April 25 – TBA vs. LHP Mason Montgomery (2-1, 3.66 ERA)

STORY LINES
• As a team, Baylor is near or at the top of the Big 12 and in the country in various categories. The Bears are first in the Big 12 in batting average (20th nationally) with a .298 clip and second in triples with nine. BU is first in the league with five shutouts (4th nationally) and second in the Big 12 in earned run average with a 3.53 ERA (24th nationally).

• Individually, the Bears have a number of players at the top of the conference as McKenzie is 1st in runs scored (2nd in the nation), 2nd in hits (2nd in the nation), 2nd in triples (15th in the nation), 3rd in total bases (4th in the nation), 4th in batting average, Andy Thomas is 3rd in RBI (8th in the nation), Tyler Thomas is 2nd in ERA (1.95), Luke Boyd is 1st in saves (5th in the nation) with eight and 2nd in appearances with 17, Jimmy Winston is 1st in wins (9th in the nation) with six, while Ryan Leckich is 1st (14th in the nation) in pitching appearances with 18.

• Baylor has one of the most reliable bullpens in the country, with the combination of Boyd, Logan Freeman, Leckich, Jacob Ashkinos, Hambleton Oliver and Winston. Leckich is tops in the conference in appearances and 22nd nationally with 18 appearances in 2021. Boyd is 2nd in the conference with 17 outings and Freeman is 5th in the Big 12 with 16 appearances, while Oliver is 7th with 15. Winston leads the team with six wins (T-1st in Big 12), while Ashkinos has a perfect 3-0 record. Each is sporting an impressive ERA, led by Boyd (1.47), Winston (2.31), Freeman (2.65), Ashkinos (3.24), Leckich (3.26), and Oliver (3.52).

• McKenzie has continued with his hot bat last week after hitting .600 batting average (9-for-15) which led the conference, while his .667 on-base percentage and .867 slugging was second in the Big 12. McKenzie was untouchable in the Saturday doubleheader sweep on the road against Kansas as he went 7-for-10 on the day with a double and a triple, while scoring two runs and two RBI. His 4-for-5 performance in the Bears game two win tied a career high. On the season, McKenzie is hitting .386 (T-3rd Big 12), while leading the league and 2nd in the nation in runs scored with 45. In addition, McKenzie’s 59 hits and three triples are 2nd in the league, while his season on-base (.444) and slugging percentages (.627) are 7th in the Big 12.

• Tyler Thomas has showed out this season as he is second in the Big 12 with a 1.95 ERA in nine starts. He leads the team in innings pitched (55.1) and strikeouts (54). Thomas ranks 2nd in the Big 12 in ERA, 3rd in opponent batting average (.192) and T-9th in strkeouts. Thomas has thrown more innings than he did last year as he threw a total of 6.2 innings, all in relief after coming off of surgery to remove a rib in June 2019 due to his Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

To stay up to date throughout the season on all things Baylor baseball, follow the team on Facebook (Baylor Baseball), Twitter (@BaylorBaseball) and Instagram (@BaylorBaseball).

-BaylorBears.com-

Zach Rhodes | Associate Director of Athletics Communications
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 919-247-7585 | O: 254-710-3784

[signature_1345719447]<http://baylorbears.com/>

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