The inaugural Round Rock Classic is this weekend, February 21st-23rd at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas! For how this tournament will shake out, this post has all you need. For ticketing and more, visit their website: www.roundrockclassic.net.
The Games
Friday
Stanford vs Houston, 3pm
#1 Texas Tech vs Tennessee, 7pm
Saturday
Tennessee vs Houston, 2pm
Stanford vs #1 Texas Tech, 6pm
Sunday
Tennessee vs Stanford, 11am
Houston vs #1 Texas Tech, 3pm
*home team listed second
The Teams
Houston (1-2) - The Cougars have a short trip up Highway 290 to get to Round Rock for this tournament. While they started off the season on not the best of footing, they have a lot to prove this weekend if they are going to be a tough out in the AAC like some expected. Houston tripped up twice in three games at home against the Youngstown State Penguins, both losses in extras. One or two bounces here and there going their way and their story could be a lot different so far this season.
Stanford (1-3) - The Cardinal comes into this series needing an offensive spark. They have scored a total of six runs in four games and struggled to find power at the plate in a weekend series where they hosted Cal State Fullerton. Luckily, their pitching is one of their strong suits, so expect them to turn it around in 2020.
Tennessee (4-0) - As one of the more unpredictable teams coming into 2020, the Volunteers have started off the season with a bang. They've allowed only six runs in four games and they started the season on a 22 inning shutout streak. Their offense has exploded for 19, 23, and 8 runs in their last three games. Tennessee has a lot to prove this weekend if they hope to show that they can stay afloat in the ever-competitive SEC.
#1 Texas Tech (4-0) - The best team in the country, according to College Baseball Nation, will have its work cut out for them this weekend if they hope to keep that title. This past weekend in Lubbock, Texas Tech outscored their opponents, Houston Baptist and Northern Colorado, 65-11 in four games. We expect Tech to be one of the top teams in the Big 12 this season and they have a good chance to show us why this weekend in Round Rock.
The Tournament
Texas Tech is our only ranked team in this tournament, but that doesn't mean there won't be great games and upsets still. This tournament will have great pitching all weekend long and any game Texas Tech is in will have a lot of offense. Personally, I could see any of these teams beating any of the others. Stanford and Houston might not have gotten off to great starts, but there's a reason a lot of people, including us, were high on them.
Texas Tech vs Tennessee Friday night will be one of the better games this weekend in college baseball. The way those two offenses are playing right now, anything is possible. Tennessee's pitching is really good this season, as it was last season, but I think Texas Tech pulls this one out behind red-hot freshman, Nate Rombach, who has five home runs and 15 RBI so far this season.
Kyle's (@kylemckelv) prediction: Texas Tech 3-0, Tennessee 2-1, Stanford 1-2, Houston 0-3
John's (@johnny_omaha_) prediction: Texas Tech 3-0, Tennessee 2-1, Stanford 1-2, Houston 0-3
Thanks for reading! The Round Rock Classic is the #BestOutsideOfOmaha. Follow along on Twitter (@RRockClassic) all weekend for updates about the games. If you're in the area, try to make it out to these games! Tag us in your pictures because Dell Diamond is a beautiful ballpark and we'd love to see more of it.
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