No. 17 WVU Baseball (22-7, 8-4) travels to Lubbock to face Texas Tech (19-13, 5-7) at Rip Griffin Park in a weekend series. Read more: WVU Baseball turns focus to Texas Tech, tough road challenge.
The Mountaineers make the southward trek to a venue which the Red Raiders protect rather well this season. TTU is 15-5 at home in 2026, and has the upper hand in the all-time series against WVU.
The Red Raiders have won six of the past 10 meetings with the Mountaineers.
Both teams are coming off mid-week non-conference victories, now shifting focus to vy for Big 12 positioning. WVU sits in third place behind UCF and Kansas, while TTU needs to make up ground from ninth.
Where the Mountaineers stand
WVU run-ruled its in-state rival, Marshall, 12-2 Wednesday. It served as a bounceback after the Mountaineers suffered their first series loss of the season against UCF.
Wednesday’s outing was practically sealed in two innings, with WVU taking a 5-1 lead into the third. Marshall picked up one more run in the third, but the Mountaineers’ offense proved to be too much. Five doubles, paired with a defensive outing which featured WVU turning six double plays and an Ian Korn win on the mound, combined for a winning formula.
Related: WVU run-rules Marshall in Morgantown, 12-2
Now, WVU heads to Rip Griffin Park in hopes of sustaining momentum, but that has been a tall order in the past. The Mountaineers are 3-12 at the venue, and swept in their most recent trip (2024).
It will take another strong all-around offensive effort, because TTU averages 10.6 runs per game.
About the opponent
Texas Tech first fielded an official team a century ago in 1926.
Along the way, the Red Raiders have made four trips to the College World Series, won five NCAA Regional titles, and 18 total appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
TTU also has two tournament and five regular season conference championships.
Head coach Tim Tadlock holds the reins for the Red Raiders yet again this year, now in his 14th season at the helm. The Lone Star State native and program alumnus has 492 wins under his belt as a head coach, and orchestrated all four of TTU’s trips to the CWS.
Tadlock’s 2026 squad is led offensively by Caden Ferraro and Jesse Rusinek, at least in terms of consistency (.426 BA each). Junior slugger Logan Hughes leads the Red Raiders in home runs (9), following up a 2025 campaign where he hit a team-leading 19.
Much of this series falls which team’s fielders and pitching staff are prepared for fireworks on the scoreboard. Tech allows 7.9 runs per game, while WVU allows 4.4 RPG.
Red Raider fielders have committed 36 errors compared to WVU’s 21, but TTU makes up for it by averaging three double plays a game.
On paper, this series should deliver a high-flying, competitive affair.
Tune in
WVU needs to pack its sunglasses, because forecasts in Lubbock are calling for temperatures in the mid 70s-low 80s, with two afternoon games on the docket. Friday night’s game is under the lights, but Saturday and Sunday are in the heart of the day. There is a chance for rain Saturday, but expect all three games to be played by the end of the weekend.
First pitch times (EST) are as follows:
- Friday 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday 3 p.m.
- Sunday 2 p.m.
Tune in to 100.9 FM The Torch or any of its nine affiliate stations across the John Fredericks Media Network for play-by-play coverage of WVU Baseball. ESPN+ carries the TV broadcast throughout the series.
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