RE: Rice vs TCU
I'm guessing today Texas Tech throws their RS Jr LHP Chris Sadberry against us (2 starts, 1-0, 8.1 IP, .324 ERA, .290 BAA, 9 hits-- 0 xtrabase hits, 0 BBs, 0 HBP, 5 Ks)...and when he goes out we're likely to get a continued diet of southpaw pitching, as their bullpen has been stellar and led by a pair of left-handers: Sr closer LHP Jonny Drozd (5 app, 2 saves, 9.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, .156 BAA, 1 BB, 6 Ks) and Jr LHP Cameron Smith (5 app, 3-0, 15.1 IP, 1.17 ERA, .250 BAA, 4 BBs, 1 HBP, 3 WP, 8 Ks). All these guys have pretty good control, so I certainly hope we'll be aggressive up there and look to swing on first pitch fastballs. Also note that these guys have not padded their stats against sub-par team; in fact, they shutdown the very potent bats of Indiana opening weekend.
Offensively, they're hitting .281/.364/.390 as a team, led by by a trio of regulars hitting over .340: Eric Guitierrez (.371/.511/.457, 3 doubles, 5 RBIs, 9 BBs), Adam Kirsch (.359/.395/.564, 1 HR, 5 doubles, 9 RBIs) and Ryan Long (.344/.389/.406, 2 doubles, 5 RBIs)...however, their most dangerous hitter may be a guy who has played in only half their games so far, Tyler Neslony (.533/.611/1.133, 15 ABs, 8 hits, 2 HRs, 2 doubles/triples, 10 RBIs).
UT and TCU were both poor hitting teams; Tech is a good hitting team. This is going to be a tough matchup for the guys, but they need to step up and end the week on a strong note. Go Owls!
(This post was last modified: 03-02-2014 09:40 AM by waltgreenberg.)
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