Red Raider Hardball | Texas Tech in the Baseball Big 12 Championship

Big 12 Championship | Game 3 | #7 Texas Tech vs. #2 Texas A&M 
4:00 p.m. | Red Hawks Field | Oklahoma City, OK

Starting Lineup:  

OUTFIELD
LF | David Paiz (FR)    CF | Barrett Barnes (SO)    RF | Andre Wheeler (FR)
INFIELD
SS | Kelby Tomlinson (JR)     2ND | Nick Popescu (SR);
3RD | Reid Redman (JR)                                  1ST | Stephen Hagen (JR)
C | Kevin Whitehead (SO)
DH | Bo Altobelli (SR)

Starting Pitchers:

Duke von Schamann | (5-0, 3.92); Trey Masek | (5-3, 4.69); Robbie Kilcrease | (5-3, 6.03); Jamen Parten | (1-4, 6.25); David Paiz | (3-4, 6.26

Big 12 Championship:  You can find the official site preview here (PDF) and if you've never clicked on an official site press release, you should know that whoever does the work for the baseball team is pretty darned good.

LAJ's George Watson previews the series and notes that this team is still looking for some wins. CF Barrett Barnes says that this team isn't satisfied and wants to continue to play their game:

"Every team is good in the Big 12," Barnes said. "It's not an easy conference or a walk-through. But we don't worry about who is on the other side of the field. We just play our game, stay locked in, play our style, be aggressive and fast. When you get too amped up about who you're playing against, that's when you start making mistakes and it goes on a downward spiral."

Meanwhile, head coach Dan Spencer says that the team needs to continue to play well:

"We need to come out here and play well," Tech head coach Dan Spencer said. "I think the league is going to get seven in (the NCAA tournament). I look around at the other power conferences and that's the way it shakes out. But we need to help ourselves, need to play well and win and do the things we're capable of doing."

I haven't had time to listen, but check out Watson with Ryan Hyatt of SportsRadio 1340.

More after the jump, including the Red Raiders who made the All-Big 12 Team and opinions on Texas Tech's chances to make the NCAA Tournament.

All-Big 12: Congrats are in order for CF Barrett Barnes and UTL David Paiz for being named to the All-Big 12 First Team! (Big 12 and Texas Tech press releases)  SS Kelby Tomlinson and RP John Neely were named to the second team and C Bo Altobelli, 2B JaModrick McGruder and 3B Reid Redman were named as honorable mention, while Paiz and Trey Masek were named to the All-Freshman team.

NCAA Tournament Hopes:  I've been able to find three different projections as to whether or not this team will make the NCAA Tournament. 

College Baseball Daily:  Texas Tech is in for sure, will be a #3 seed in the regional with Florida St.  In fact, they think that Texas Tech isn't even one of the last teams in the NCAA Tournament.

ESPN College Baseball Blog:  Texas Tech is one of the last nine teams out of the NCAA Tournament. 

Baseball America:  Texas Tech is on the bubble, along with Kansas State, but is still in the tournament and will get 7 teams in the NCAA Tournament.