Texas Tech Baseball Climbs As High As No. 4 In National Polls

On the strength of a 14-3 start to the season the Texas Tech baseball team finds itself climbing towards the top of the national polls as Big 12 play begins this weekend.

Texas Tech has become a baseball school.  Following disappointing seasons by the football team and both the Red Raider and Lady Raider basketball teams this year, Tim Padlock’s Texas Tech baseball team is once again single-handedly salvaging the athletic year in Lubbock.

The Texas Tech baseball team sits as high as No. 4 in one national baseball poll.  Overall, six major baseball publications have the Red Raiders ranked in the top 11.

Following last weekend’s home series win over the University of Texas San Antonio, Tadlock has his team receiving national praise.  While the team began the season believing that it was a  national title contender , the national media was not willing to give Tech the benefit of the doubt due to significant losses from last season’s Big 12 title team.  Some polls did not have Tech ranked to begin the season while others had them ranked in the 20’s.

But wins over top-15 teams Mississippi, LSU and Arizona have elevated the Red Raiders to a national prominence not seen this early in the season for at least two decades.

The  “Collegiate Baseball Newspaper” (the oldest college baseball poll in existence) has Texas Tech ranked 4^th in the country.  This is a jump of eight spots from No. 12 last week.

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Meanwhile, the website  D1Baseball.com and the  USA Today have the Red Raiders sitting at No. 6.  That marks a three-spot jump in the “USA Today” poll.

Two more publications,  Perfect Game and the  National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association slot Texas Tech baseball at No. 8.  Finally,  Baseball America ranks the Red Raiders at No. 11.

"Of the Red Raiders, “Baseball America” says, “The Red Raiders came within one out of sweeping their weekend series, with lefthander Steven Gingery throwing 8.2 scoreless innings before the Roadrunners rallied for three runs to steal a win. Otherwise, Texas Tech continued to pound the ball, as the team has done all season long. The Red Raiders are averaging 7.3 runs per game.”"

Interestingly, “Baseball America” has LSU, which Texas Tech beat at the Shriners Classic in Houston, ranked ahead of Texas Tech at No. 6.  Meanwhile, Arizona, which lost in Lubbock 13-1 on March 7^th is ranked just being Tech at No. 12.

On top of the team’s ranking, one Red Raider has received a prestigious individual honor for his recent play.  Junior outfielder Tanner Gardner was named the  Big 12 Player of The Week yesterday.

Hitting over .600 last week, Gardner continued to be the leader of the powerful Texas Tech offense.

"According to TexasTech.com , Gardner “racked up nine hits, including four doubles, while walking three times. He also recorded three RBI and six runs scored” last week."

While the university is on spring break this week, the Texas Tech baseball team has a big week in store.  Tonight, the team has one final non-conference tune-up at UT-Arlington before beginning conference play this weekend in Austin.

The Longhorns are 12-6 on the season and are riding a five-game winning streak.  In addition, they have a nice 10-3 record at home after this weekend’s three-game sweep of UCLA.

Next: Spring FB: Skepticism About JUCO Defenders

Keep checking in with Wreck ‘Em Red for Texas Tech baseball coverage as the Red Raiders defend their Big 12 championship.