Texas Tech will open the 2017 Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic against former Big 12 Conference foe Texas A&M, the Houston Astros have announced as part of the 2017 tournament schedule.
The Red Raiders, coming off their second College World Series appearance over the past three seasons, will face the Aggies at 3:30 p.m. on March 3 inside Minute Maid Park. It will be the first meeting between the two schools since Texas A&M departed the Big 12 following the 2012 season.
Tech will also take on two other members of the Southeastern Conference over the three-day event, beginning with Ole Miss at 12 p.m. on March 4. The Red Raiders close the tournament with an 11 a.m. first pitch on March 5 against LSU.
Tech has met Ole Miss just once previously in school history which came during Tech’s historic first trip to the College World Series in 2014. Tech and LSU, meanwhile, will be facing each other for the first time ever on a baseball diamond.
This is the first time in program history where the Red Raiders have made consecutive trips to the Shriners College Classic, known formerly as the Houston College Classic. It will be Tech’s 10th all-time appearance in the event.
The Red Raiders concluded the 2016 Shriners College Classic with a 2-1 showing with victories over then-No. 9 Houston as well as No. 6 Louisiana-Lafayette. Tech enters the 2017 event with wins in three of its last four games, all of which that have come against top-10 ranked opponents.
Tech will be joined in Houston by fellow Big 12 counterparts TCU and Baylor. The full 2017 schedule will be announced later this fall.
2017 SHRINERS COLLEGE CLASSIC SCHEDULE
March 3 – vs. Texas A&M (3:30 p.m.)
March 4 – vs. Ole Miss (12 p.m.)
March 5 – vs. LSU (11 a.m.)
(COURTESY: Texas Tech Sports Information Office)
