Texas Tech Red Raiders news: Aberg misses cut, baseball splits double header, more

Here is your Texas Tech news update for May 20, 2024.

Texas Tech golf alum Ludvig Aberg misses cut at PGA Championship

Just over a month after finishing runner-up at the 2024 Masters, Texas Tech golf alum Ludvig Aberg was unable to replicate that magic at the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky. Shooting an even-par 142 over the first two rounds, he joined Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, and Phil Mickelson as notable players to miss the cut this weekend.

One factor working against Aberg could have been a balky knee. After withdrawing from last week's Wells Fargo Championships due to a knee injury, Aberg competed this weekend with a brace on his knee. However, as the tournament began, he said that the brace wasn't a hindrance.

“I'm wearing a brace just for safety reasons,” he said, “but it's nothing that's bothering me. I'm focusing on the golf.”

Despite missing the cut, this week, Aberg is still in the midst of a successful first full season on the PGA Tour. He ranks 7th in FedEx Cup points standings with 1,510, and he has earned over $6 million in winnings thus far.

Texas Tech baseball splits doubleheader on Friday

Friday, the Texas Tech baseball team ended the 2024 regular season in Arizona with mixed results. Splitting a doubleheader with UNLV and Arizona State, Tech did little to enhance its NCAA Tournament hopes.

In game one, the Red Raiders escaped with a 13-12 win in walk-off fashion. After allowing UNLV to jump out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the third, Tech answered with six runs in the bottom of the inning to start what would be a wild affair.

Tech would then tack on one run in the fourth, two in the fifth, and three in the sixth for a 12-4 advantage. However, UNLV would rally scoring eight runs over the last three innings to tie the game.

In the bottom of the ninth, TJ Pompey was able to poke a ball past the UNLV first baseman to score Tracer Lopez from second base for the winning run. That moved Tech to 31-23 on the season.

In game two, the Red Raiders fell to Arizona State 17-11 in another high-scoring affair. It was a back-and-forth affair early with the teams trading blows until Tech led 9-7 heading into the bottom of the sixth. That's when the Sun Devils would erupt for seven runs to put the game out of reach.

Texas Tech now enters this week's Big 12 baseball tournament facing the prospect of likely having to win the entire event in order to earn the right to play in the NCAA Tournament. The No. 10 seeded Red Raiders begin with a game against No. 3 seed Texas on Tuesday at 7:30 PM at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Texas Tech football legend returns to Red Raiders as an analyst

Last week, former Texas Tech safety Darcel McBath returned to his alma mater as an analyst on Joey McGuire's football staff. Previously, McBath had been working as the cornerbacks coach at Mississippi State from 2020-23.

"We're excited to welcome Darcel and his family back home to Texas Tech," McGuire said. "With his experience, Darcel will be an asset to both our offensive and defensive staffs in this newly-created role on our staff."

McBath's role will primarily involve scouting opponents as well as helping self-scout the Red Raiders. As a player, he was one of the best safeties in program history racking up 224 career tackles and 12 interceptions. That included seven picks as a senior in Texas Tech's unforgettable 2008 season that saw the Red Raiders go 11-2.