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Texas Tech Baseball: Breaking Down The Lubbock Regional

By Matthew Conner

BREWSTER, MA - AUGUST 11: Zac Susi of the Bourne Braves warms up in the on deck circle during game one of the Cape Cod League Championship Series against the Brewster Whitecaps at Stony Brook Field on August 11, 2017 in Brewster, Massachusetts. The Cape Cod League was founded in 1885 and is the premier summer baseball league for college athletes. Over 1100 of these student athletes have gone on to compete in MLB including Chris Sale, Carlton Fisk, Joe Girardi, Nomar Garciaparra and Jason Varitek. The chance to see future big league stars up close makes Cape Cod League games a popular activity for the families in each of the 10 towns on the Cape to host a team. Each team is a non-profit organization, relying on labor from volunteers and donations from spectators to run each year. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BREWSTER, MA - AUGUST 11: Zac Susi of the Bourne Braves warms up in the on deck circle during game one of the Cape Cod League Championship Series against the Brewster Whitecaps at Stony Brook Field on August 11, 2017 in Brewster, Massachusetts. The Cape Cod League was founded in 1885 and is the premier summer baseball league for college athletes. Over 1100 of these student athletes have gone on to compete in MLB including Chris Sale, Carlton Fisk, Joe Girardi, Nomar Garciaparra and Jason Varitek. The chance to see future big league stars up close makes Cape Cod League games a popular activity for the families in each of the 10 towns on the Cape to host a team. Each team is a non-profit organization, relying on labor from volunteers and donations from spectators to run each year. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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TULSA, OK – MARCH 17: The New Mexico State Aggies mascot looks on in the first half against the Baylor Bears during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at BOK Center on March 17, 2017 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images)
TULSA, OK – MARCH 17: The New Mexico State Aggies mascot looks on in the first half against the Baylor Bears during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at BOK Center on March 17, 2017 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /

New Mexico State Aggies 40-20 Overall; 17-7 WAC

Another team familiar with the Texas Tech baseball team is New Mexico State.  The Red Raiders and Aggies square off almost every season including two times in 2018  with NMSU going 0-2.

The Aggies’ calling card is their offense which put up 39 runs in a shut out of Mississippi Valley St. in February.  That is not an error; 39 runs in one game.

Much like Texas Tech, NMSU has threats all over the lineup with nine players carrying at least a .300 average.  Freshman Nick Gonzalez paces the offense with a .349 average and he is tied for second on the team with nine homers.

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The home run lead currently resides with junior infielder Caleb Henderson who has 10 round-trippers to his credit.  He is hitting .339, second on the team and his 63 RBI also leads the Aggies.

Overall, NMSU is hitting .313 as a team and has connected for 59 homers.  If they are to have a chance this weekend, they will have to slug their way through the field.

That is because their pitching staff is questionable.  Their team ERA of 3.96 is respectable and almost half a run better than Tech’s.  However, they have just five pitchers on staff with over 30 innings pitched this season meaning that their bullpen could be lacking go-to hurlers who can be counted on in big situations, something that is crucial in a regional tournament setting.

The staff ace is Jonathan Groff who is 11-2 with a 2.49 ERA in 15 starts.  Kyle Bradish is a strong second starter going 9-3 with a 2.79 ERA in 16 starts.  Alex Pinedo has made 11 starts this year going 5-3 (in 19 total appearances) with a 3.41 ERA.

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But after that trio, the NMSU staff is shaky at best and should they have to rely heavily on their bullpen, life is going to be tough for Texas Tech’s neighbors to the west.

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