Cody Masters saw a 10th inning pinch-hit opportunity Saturday against the University of Texas, but he loudly announced his return Wednesday against Stephen F. Austin State University with a two-out grand slam in the eighth inning to push the Red Raider run total to 13. #7 Texas Tech (22-5) took down the visiting Lumberjacks (5-18) 19-1 on Tuesday and 13-5 on Wednesday to wrap up a six-game homestand before hitting the road for five in a row.
Prior to the appearance against Texas, Masters had not seen the field in 2022. It was previously reported that he’d been recovering from a non-Covid illness, but according to explanations on Twitter, the fifth-year senior from Coppell has faced serious medical challenges due to meningitis. Masters was hospitalized for 14 days in February. According to the Tweet, which Masters quote-tweeted with a Bible verse, there was a time his survival was in doubt.
By GRACE, thru FAITH,@codymasters32 is the comeback story of the year.
After battling meningitis 14 days in the hospital last month, we didn’t know if he’d live, let alone ever get to play baseball again…which makes this pinch hit GRAND SLAM truly miraculous! #PraiseJesus🙌🏻🙏🏻 https://t.co/ODXNmksOUT
— Corbin Young (@CorbinYoungFCA) March 30, 2022
“It was probably one of the biggest battles I’ve had to face in the entirety of my career and maybe even my life,” said Masters “I just want to put this jersey on to help Austin [Becker] and help this team.”
In the postgame media availability, Head Coach Tim Tadlock commented on Masters’s journey.
“Really cool for Cody, the guys were really proud of him, really happy for him. I think if you’d have told all of us that he was going to be coming off the bench pinch-hitting six weeks ago we’d have probably said ‘well, I don’t know about that.’ So, very resilient young man, very strong. Put the weight back on that he lost. Like I said last week this time he was seeing simulated at-bats and simulated pitching, swung the bat as well as anybody we have.”
Masters also acknowledged the Red Raider faithful and the standing ovation he received after the salami he sent over the wall Wednesday.
“It was pretty cool. Just getting to be here and play here for the entirety of my five-year career is just really cool. That crowd is special. The energy for sure is very special. I don’t think it’s really matched anywhere else.”
Andrew Devine got the spot start for Tech in the Tuesday matchup with the Lumberjacks for his first start of the season. Chase Hampton was the announced starter but was scratched due to a non-Covid illness. According to Tadlock, the Red Raiders have seen the flu running its course through the team.
Devine was solid going 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5K. Both hits Devine surrendered were for extra bases, a solo home run to lead off the second inning and a double to lead off the third. Devine also hit two batters, but each time responded well to work around the baserunners. In the first, he retired two in order to end the frame after the walk, in the second retired the side in order after the dinger, and in the third, he issued back-to-back strikeouts after the hit batsman.
Colin Clark turned in three scoreless relief innings with five Ks and only one hit, Brandon Beckel was perfect through two frames with four Ks to close out the game.
Offensively the Red Raiders were prolific, lighting up the Lumberjacks for 23 hits, including five home runs. Ty Coleman had a multi-home run day going 3-4, 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 4 R. Jace Jung was exceptional going 5-6, 3 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 5 R. Kurt Wilson and Easton Murrell mashed the other two taters for Tech.
On Wednesday, Austin Becker went four innings in his start. Shay Hartis, Trendan Parish, and Jamie Hitt combined for 4.2 IP with two hits and five strikeouts. Jase Lopez also accounted for 0.1 innings of work but struggled giving up four runs on three hits and a walk. Parker Kelly, who went 2-4 and didn’t strike out for the first game since the second offering against Mississippi State, and Wilson each had a home run in addition to Masters’s grand slam.
Cole Stilwell was 2-2 with three walks and four runs scored in his start behind the dish.
Texas Tech will head to Lawrence to face the Kansas Jayhawks in the Red Raiders’ second Big 12 series of 2022. The Jayhawks are 9-14 on the season and 0-3 in Big 12 play after a sweep on the road in Stillwater last weekend. The Friday game is scheduled for 6:00 pm and the live stream will be available on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with radio call available on Double T 97.3 FM and in their listening area, as well as through The Varsity Network App.
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