PREVIEW: No.7 Texas Tech Looks to Extend its 14-Game Win Streak Against No. 14 Oklahoma State

LUBBOCK, Texas– No.7 Texas Tech (14-3) will host No. 14 Oklahoma State (11-3-1) in a three-game series at Dan Law Field this weekend to kick off Big-12 play.

Oklahoma State is coming into this matchup following a 13-6 loss at the hands of the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks on Tuesday. This past weekend, they stole a game from no.2 Vanderbilt in a series that the Commodores took two out of the three games.

Oklahoma State Pitching

Starting Rotation

On the mound for the Cowboys, head coach Josh Holliday has run a four-man starting rotation featuring Parker Scott, Bryce Osmond, Justin Campbell, and Justin Wrobleski.

The last few weekends (against Vanderbilt and Grand Canyon) Scott took the mound on Friday, Wrobleski on Saturday, and Osmond on Sunday. Expect that to continue into this weekend’s matchup.

As a unit, these pitchers have been extremely solid. All three of them post an ERA under five and have averaged over five innings pitched in their outings this season.

Cowboy Bullpen

In the bullpen, Oklahoma State has great depth that Holliday has utilized immensely. Two arms that stick out from the rest are Trevor Martin and Brett Standlee.

Both of these guys do two things exceptionally well. They strike batters out and they don’t let them get on base.

In 8.1 innings pitched, Trevor Martin has recorded nine strikeouts and has allowed nine men on base (six hits and 3 walks) while keeping a 2.16 era.

Brett Standlee through 7.0 innings pitched, has only let five men on base while recording 15 strikeouts. He also has recorded an era of 1.29 this season.

Oklahoma State Batting

At the plate, the Cowboys have struggled to get things going. At this point in the season, four out of their starting nine batters have a batting average below .200, and only two of their starters have held a batting average above .300 (Jake Thompson and Brock Mathis).

Key Hitters

Jake Thompson currently touts a batting average of .327 and is the team’s leader in hits with 16. The Kentucky transfer has entered this Cowboy clubhouse and has given them some must-needed offensive production.

Brock Mathis has returned to Oklahoma State’s roster and has seen another improvement in his production. In 12 games, Mathis leads the team in home runs (5), slugging percentage (.829), and batting average (.341).

Christian Encarnacion-Strand was a JUCO All-American in his freshman season at Yavapai College. This season, he has exploded on the scene with the Cowboys by leading the team in hits (16) and home runs (5), while also posting a .262 batting average.

Notes

The last time these two teams played, Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma State in the 2019 Super Regionals to send the Red Raiders to Omaha.

This will be the first top-15 matchup that Texas Tech has played since losing to #7 Mississippi State 5-11 in the final game of the College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Park.

Each of these games will be on ESPN+ and the TTSN. The Friday game will begin at 6:30p.m. CT, and both the Saturday and Sunday matchups will be at 2 p.m. CT.

Up Next

Following this matchup against Oklahoma State, Texas Tech will host the South Florida Bulls in a three-game series next weekend. All games will be streamed live to ESPN+ and the radio calls will be on the Texas Tech Sports Network.