N.M. State to play Texas Tech in NCAA Baseball Regional

LAS CRUCES — New Mexico State head baseball coach Brian Green has always wanted to see how his Aggies starting pitching staff would measure up against regional powers for a weekend series.

Green and the Aggies have that opportunity against Texas Tech in the NCAA Regional. The Aggies will play No. 9 seed Texas Tech at noon MDT on Friday at Rip Griffin Park in Lubbock.

Kent State will play Louisville on the other side of the bracket at 5 p.m. MDT, on Friday in the four-team, double elimination format with the winner advancing to the Super Regional.

“It’s a great opportunity for us in a sense that we have played in the midweek so we have seen them,” said Green, whose club went 40-20 on the season and won the school’s first Western Athletic Conference Tournament championship to advance to the Regional for the first time since 2012. “We have always wanted to take a crack at these teams on a weekend, but they have faced our midweek pitching. We have a little chip on our shoulder. We are the little man coming out of the WAC. We are excited about the opportunity.”

NMSU has played Texas Tech each year since 2012.

The Aggies are 1-8 against Texas Tech under Green in the past four years, including 0-2 this season. Texas Tech beat NMSU 12-0 in Lubbock in February and 2-1 in April in Midland.

“We have been to Tech a few times this year and a lot in the past,” said Aggies junior right-hander Kyle Bradish. “We know their stadium, know their fans and what to expect.”

Either right-hander Kyle Bradish or left-hander Jonathan Groff will likely start against Texas Tech on Friday depending on matchups, Green said.

“We will look at the left and right matchup,” Green said. “We know that Tech is pretty left-handed so that’s going to play a part in that.”

Texas Tech and NMSU are in the Top 5 in several offensive categories. Texas Tech is third in runs per game with 8.4 (NMSU is fourth with 8.2) and on base percentage, where Texas Tech is second (.423) and NMSU is fourth (.412).

“We have seen their guys,” Green said. “(Grant Little) is an All-American, (Big 12 Freshman of the Year Josh Jung) is one of the best players in the country. They have great team speed, great athleticism and power in the middle of the lineup. They are good.”

Texas Tech went 39-17 this season and lead the all-time series against the Aggies 50-18.