Baseball America's No. 9 Texas and Texas Tech have one thing in common.
A strong desire to establish themselves and get above .500 in Big 12 Conference play.
"Everybody is motivated right now," said Tech coach Dan Spencer, whose Red Raiders take on Texas in a three-game series starting at 6:30 p.m. today in Austin. "If you want to play in the postseason, you have to win your conference games. This is another test for us."
Tech (10-15, 3-3 in the Big 12 play) hopes to get some leverage this weekend on four other teams in a five-way tie for third place in the conference standings and break above .500 for the first time since winning a three-game series against Nebraska 2-1 March 15.
Despite the strong overall record, the Longhorns (15-6, 2-4) are eighth in the Big 12 standings heading into the weekend.
The Big 12 Tournament champions in 2008 started 4-2 through six conference games last season.
Texas has won two of its six Big 12 games against Missouri this season. But the Longhorns were swept in a three-game series at Kansas last weekend.
The four conference losses place the Longhorns just below Tech and the four other teams tied for third place in the Big 12. So a few wins for Texas could put them in the right position.
Only the top eight teams in the final conference standings make the Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City, and a few wins on the road also could work in Tech's favor.
"We're excited with where we are right now," Spencer said. "We want to go to Oklahoma City, I've never been and a lot of the players haven't either."
The road woes continue for Tech.
The Red Raiders enter the weekend series after having a two-game win streak snapped at Texas State - a team Texas defeated earlier this season - in a 10-4 loss on Wednesday.
The loss pushed Tech's record away from Dan Law Field to 2-12 and Tech tied a season-high for fielding errors with four. The defense also gave up six unearned runs to the Bobcats.
However, the Red Raiders do not feel any added pressure to win on the road.
"(Wednesday) didn't turn out the way we wanted it to," Tech first baseman Chris Richburg said, "but we feel we can play well. We're going in with a good attitude and just taking it one game at a time."
Pitching has been Texas' strongest suit to start the year.
The Longhorn starting pitchers are allowing a combined ERA of 1.99. The entire Texas pitching staff is allowing an opposing batting average of .197.
Only one Texas batter is hitting above .300, but with the pitching, the Longhorns still have outscored opponents 92-49.
Despite Texas' strong overall record and its pitching staff, Richburg, who leads Tech in home runs with eight, said the Red Raiders did not prepare for Texas any differently than any other opponent in Thursday's practice.
"No one really cares if it's Texas or anyone else," he said. "They're going to come out and pitch well so we're going to have to come out and hit well."
Miles Morgan (1-1) is scheduled to get the start on the mound for Tech. Morgan has a 6.23 ERA through 26 innings pitched allowing a .294 opponent batting average with 28 strikeouts and nine walks.
"This is a great opportunity for our kids to play Texas on the road," Spencer said. "It's a great test for our ball club - they're all tests."
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