Texas Tech set to host UT-Arlington in midweek series

After winning a three-game set against No. 27 Iowa, the No. 18 Texas Tech baseball team prepares to host UT Arlington for a two-game set beginning with a 6:30 p.m. Tuesday contest at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.

The Red Raiders (14-3) had a three-game losing streak snapped, while their 13-game home winning streak was also ended as the Hawkeyes garnered a 10-9 win on Sunday.

Along with the loss, due to a pair of errors that led to three unearned runs in the ninth, Texas Tech is unsure of the status of Dillon Carter. The centerfielder suffered an injured left hand trying to make a diving catch on what turned into a two-run double by Chase Moseley. Following the game Sunday, Texas Tech coach Tim Tadlock said Carter's glove hand got caught in the fence as he laid out for the ball on the warning track in right-center field.

"When one of your guys that can really play goes down like that, it's frustrating," Tadlock said Sunday. "Obviously, we'll get it X-rayed and see what it looks like."

Prior to the injury, Carter was off to the best start of his four-year career, recording his fifth home run and third of the series Sunday. His .548 on-base percentage leads the team while he’s second on the team in home runs, average (.400) and OPS (1.392).

On his Monday radio show, Tadlock said Carter will, ”be out for awhile” and did not go into specifics of the injury. Freshman Nolen Hester and freshmen Gage Harrelson Jeric Curtis was one of several players mentioned to fill the void on offense and defense. Harrelson, from Warner Robins, Georgia, and Curtis, from Tomball Memorial, impressed pro scouts with their speed.

The Mavericks (7-8) won the first two games to secure a three-game road series before dropping the final contest to Tarleton State last weekend in Stephenville. UTA has secured an 8-7 victory over nationally-ranked TCU back on March 7 in Fort Worth, but dropped the earlier game 7-3 on Feb. 22.

Tyson Pointer leads the team with 16 RBI followed by Ryan Black (13 RBI) and Garrison Berkley (11 RBI) for UT Arlington.

The two squads end the two-game midweek set with a 2 p.m. Wednesday getaway game.

Texas Tech men’s basketball

With the head coaching position up in the air, Robert Jennings II elected to see his options.

The freshman forward announced Monday on Twitter, his intentions to enter his name into the transfer portal, ”with the possibility of returning to Texas Tech as an option.

“I would like to thank the Texas Tech basketball stall staff for allowing me an opportunity to play at Texas Tech University this year and helping me improve as a player on and off the court,” he wrote in a graphic posted to Twitter. ”I would also like to thank my teammates for the bond that we have created as well as the fans and the city of Lubbock for all the love and passion you guys have had for me since Day one.”

He averaged 2.7 points and 1.9 rebounds in 30 games played, which included four starts.

Elijah Fisher — who entered his name in the transfer portal, per a report from Joe Tipton of On3Sports that included a Twitter graphic Sunday — appears to also be weighing his options as the Red Raiders coaching search continues.

A Texas Tech official Monday confirmed Fisher was not in the transfer portal.

A player can enter their name to see prospective options at other programs with the intention of returning for a 60-day period which opened Monday. Terrence Shannon, Jr. went through the process before choosing to transfer last season to Illinois near his hometown of Chicago.

LCU men’s track and field

Bryce Spencer earned another accolade Monday.

For the first time in program history, Spencer, a member of the Lubbock Christian track & field team, was named USTFCCCA First Team All-American for Division-II Indoor Track & Field.

Athletes of member institutions who finished in the top-8 of their respective individual events and relays at the 2023 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships this past weekend in Virginia Beach, Virginia, took home First-Team All-America honors. Those who placed ninth through 12th individually or on a relay team that finished ninth or 10th were named Second-Team All-America.

Spencer earns the accolade after finishing second in the weight throw at the NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships. Spencer opened the day with a toss of 19.03 meters on his first throw, before slinging a throw of 20.98 meters, smashing his own school record set earlier in the season in the event by 1.36 meters. The mark also set a new facility record for the Virginia Beach Sports Complex, beating the old mark of 20.28 meters set by Troy Yearwood of North Carolina. Spencer faulted on his final throw, but took his heat by 0.54 meters, beating out Dominic Nutter of Walsh.

After the final eight throwers competed in the second heat, Spencer advanced to the finals sitting in second-place overall. The Sundown, Texas native faulted on his final three throws, but only Ben Haas got as close as 0.32 meters to the senior, and Spencer claimed the silver medal in the weight throw, the Chaps first ever medal at the NCAA Division-II Indoor Championships.

Spencer earns the Chaps first-ever First Team All-American selection in Indoor Track & Field in the program's Division-II history with his top-eight finish. He is the fourth straight All-American overall for the Chaps in indoor track & field, after Anna Salisbury earned Second Team honors last indoor season in the 400-meter run. Keitron Boyd was the last men's track & field member to earn indoor All-American honors, earning a Second Team selection in 2021 in the 200-meter run.

The senior also earned All-Region accolades in the weight throw for the second straight season. Spencer finished no lower than seventh in the event this season, resetting his own record in the event five times. At the Matador Qualifier, Spencer broke his own record in the weight throw by 0.71 meters with a mark of 19.67 meters on his third throw of the day. His first throw of 19.00 meters would've also broken his old record of 18.96 meters set earlier this season at the UNM Team Open. Spencer recorded a second place finish behind Max McKhann of Stanford. The Sundown native beat out throwers from Texas Tech, Abilene Christian, and South Plains College among others.

The Chaps' attention now turns toward the 2023 outdoor season, which begins on Saturday, Mar. 18 at the WT Spring Break Classic on the campus of West Texas A&M. Action begins at 12:00 PM from Canyon. For more information, fans can head to lcuchaps.com.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: COLLEGE SPORTS ROUNDUP: Texas Tech set to host UT-Arlington in midweek series