ARLINGTON – In recent years, the hairstyles of the Red Raiders have garnered plenty of attention. Dillon Carter’s lettuce, Tanner Gardner’s locks, Caleb Freeman’s mullet, all were epic examples of Red Raider flare. Whether it’s flow, salad, or lettuce to you – for the freshmen of Texas Tech it was noticeably absent for opening weekend. But regardless of their hair, or absence thereof for Texas Tech’s freshmen, the Red Raiders earned their first win in Globe Life Field on a resounding note Friday night as Owen Washburn, a freshman from Webster, Wisconsin, dropped a curving single into right field to score the winning run in a thrilling walk-off 7-6 season-opening victory over the Michigan Wolverines.
Washburn, who started in right field for Texas Tech Friday night, doesn’t have personal memories of the sweep of Michigan in Lubbock early in 2019, or the less stellar memories of Michigan in Omaha later that season. But Washburn made a lifetime of memories of his own in his first appearance in a collegiate baseball game going 3-4, 3 R, and batting in the most important run of the evening – and his fledgling college career.
“You know what you’re getting with Owen,” said Head Coach Tim Tadlock. “He’s going to show up, he’s going to be a baseball player, that’s what he is, he’s a winner, he’s going to be fun to watch.”
Tech scuffled almost as early as possible as starting pitcher Andrew Morris, a transfer from Division II Colorado Mesa, offered a 2-0 pitch to leadoff hitter Clark Elliott, who turned it around and snuck it over the notorious right field corner in the home of the Texas Rangers. Morris, who tallied 6 strikeouts on the evening, struggled with his command at times walking four and keeping freshman catcher Hudson White working to keep wild pitches in front of him.
“I thought his mound presence was outstanding, I thought the stuff was outstanding,” said Tadlock about Morris. “I think Michigan was really good against him, but I think he also executed some pitches in there and kept us in the game.”
Morris lasted 3.2 innings, but saw his night come to an end after walking back-to-back batters. Tadlock brought in Derek Bridges, a returner to a Texas Tech squad where returners feel less common than new faces. Bridges earned one out on one pitch to close out the inning.
In addition to a clean-shaven sheen for the youngest on the squad, the Red Raiders sported a new look in the lineup as well with three newcomers in the top of the batting order and White in the nine-hole. While some faces are not new, they are finding themselves in new roles. Kurt Wilson saw his second straight season opener starting at shortstop, a job he’ll look to lock down in 2022.
Finding themselves in a 4-1 hole, Tech mounted a long comeback plating two in the 5th inning on a two-out, 2 RBI Wilson triple to left-center. That was Wilson’s second hit of the evening, the Arlington Martin product (and fan favorite) also smoked a two-out, RBI single to left field in the bottom of the third to put Tech on the board. Along with Wilson and Washburn, Eason Murrell, who started at third base for Tech, was the third and final Red Raider to notch a multi-hit game in this first offering of the season.
“I can’t even explain how excited I was when Owen Washburn hit that ball down the line,” explained a smiling Wilson. “Kid’s been working hard and it put all of us together and bonded even more, I can’t wait to play every game with these guys.”
Tadlock followed, “we’re fortunate to watch a guy like Kurt Wilson as long as we have right?”
The Wolverines continued to get after Red Raider pitching throughout the night until Brendan Girton, the sophomore from Gage, Oklahoma, set up shop. Girton tossed 2.1 innings of perfect baseball and notched 5 Ks along the way, shutting down a Wolverines offense who at that point, had outhit the Red Raiders 8 hits to 3.
“I know without Brendan Girton, without the bullpen, without Chase Hampton, you’re not in a position to do that,” said Tadlock. “Really proud of the ways those guys came in and threw the ball. Opening day, I mean you think you’ve seen it all and usually something crazy happens opening day.”
Chase Hamtpon took the bump following Girton and was impressive as well. Hampton, who in 2021 took over for an injured Brandon Birdsell and finished the season with a 3.36 ERA and 17 to 34 strikeout-to-walk ratio, took care of business in the final inning to leave Tech in a position to take the win in the bottom of the ninth. Hampton, who is the Tuesday starter in the home opener against Dallas Baptist University, was most-likely appearing on his bullpen day.
The Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, Jace Jung, received a taste of the respect he’ll deal with throughout the season as Michigan pitched around him throughout the evening. Jung tallied one hit but garnered two walks and wore a two-out RBI hit-by-pitch in the 6th to score the first of Tech’s two rally runs in the inning. The second followed immediately as a wild pitch advanced all runners and scored Washburn, who reached on a two-out walk earlier in the inning.
While Washburn will be remembered as the hero of the day, not to be forgotten in a win built on Tadlock trademarks of team contributions is the University of Texas transfer Dalton Porter. Entering the game as a pinch hitter for Florida State transfer, and starting center fielder, Cooper Swanson. Porter faced a two-out, bases-loaded situation in his first appearance in the red and black. His sacrifice fly to left field secured the tie by scoring Easton Murrell, who reached on a single to start the inning.
The Red Raiders will be back at it Saturday against Auburn University at 3:00 pm at Globe Life Field. Auburn lost their opening game of the State Farm College Baseball Showdown to the Oklahoma Sooners 0-3.
