FORT WORTH – The Red Raiders (27-11, 7-4) dropped a tight contest 4-3 to the TCU Horned Frogs (23-12, 9-5) to lose their first Big 12 series in 2022, and the first since Tech dropped a series against Baylor in Lubbock April 23-25, 2021.
Brandon Birdsell (5-2) took the mound for his ninth start of the season but it was apparent early that Birdsell didn’t have his best stuff as he struggled early with fastball command and fought his breaking ball throughout the appearance. He scuffled through 5 innings giving up 4 runs on 7 hits and walked 3 with 3 strikeouts, two unusual numbers for the Red Raiders’ ace.
TCU got rolling in the second inning with a leadoff single, one-out RBI double, and an RBI groundout to put two on the board. The Red Raider defense responded by backing up Birdsell with two outs at the plate. Splitting the runs in the second, TCU sent a ball into shallow center field, but a relay of Zac Vooletich – Jace Jung – Cole Stilwell (8-4-2) put out Reed Spenrath at the plate. In the fourth, Luke Boyers sent a double to left-center field that it appeared would score Kurtis Byrne. But a diving save by Kurt Wilson was followed by a throwout at the plate once again in a 6-2 putout that saved the run and helped Birdsell hang a zero on the board in the frame.
Owen Washburn also got in on the defensive highlights in the bottom of the fifth. He made a catch in right field robbing the Horned Frogs of an extra-base hit. The freshman sacrificed his body going face-first into a padded wall support to complete the catch.
PSA: @OwenWashburn7 is tough as nails!!
Washburn steals an extra-base hit as he crashes into the wall. pic.twitter.com/bCSMppj6Q2
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) April 16, 2022
Following a single, walk, and RBI single in the sixth inning, Birdsell gave way to Mason Molina who struck out the side to follow. But the second strikeout to Gray Rodgers was wild and it scored Sam Thompson, pinch-running for Spenrath.
Molina took it the rest of the way allowing only one hit in 3 innings of work and fanned 4 as he only faced one hitter above the minimum in his appearance out of the bullpen.
Offensively for Tech it was a 2-hit affair heading into the eighth. But a painful leadoff hit to the ribs of Stilwell and a walk put two aboard for TCU reliever Caleb Bolden, He gave way to Horned Frog closer River Ridings seeking his tenth save of the season. Ridings gave up back-to-back singles, the second by Wilson with 2 RBIs attached closed the score to 4-2 in favor of TCU. Ridings retired the side in order to follow.
.@Kurtwilson14 cuts the lead in half 😤 pic.twitter.com/SVfRZwm0Bl
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) April 16, 2022
Vooletich pounded a single down the left-field line to lead off the ninth inning. Ridings plunked Easton Murrell and after a strikeout, walked back-to-back hitters with the second walking in a run. Wilson flew out to the infield and then things got whacky in a hurry.
The six-hole hitter for Tech changed multiple times throughout the late innings and Head Coach Tim Tadlock sent Trevor Conley to the plate in the pivotal moment. Conely stepped into a bases-loaded situation with the tying run 90 ft away at third base.
Ridings was called for a balk by the home plate umpire Seth Buckminster, sending Sam Hunt home to tie the ballgame. TCU Head Coach Kirk Saarloos shot out of the dugout appealing and Buckminster met with the rest of the officiating crew. The second base umpire, Andrew Fulton, said he saw Ridings step off instead of balking and Buckminster reversed the call.
Upon informing Tadlock of the change, it was the Texas Tech skipper’s turn to exit the dugout with guns blazing. Tadlock was more animated and visibly frustrated than most can recall seeing and Buckminster seemed to explain that he didn’t see Ridings step off. The balk call, which by rule is not reviewable, was reversed. Conley grounded out to second base to follow and the game ended in a level of controversy rarely seen in college baseball.
Assistant coaches J-Bob Thomas and Eric Gutierrez could be seen in a heated exchange with the officiating crew as they exited the field following the final out.
The Red Raider offense struggled with the fireballer Perez throughout the evening and struggle to provide Birdsell with any run support. Tech was 5-32 (.156) on the evening, 0-8 with two outs, and 2-13 (.154) with runners in scoring position.
Texas Tech will look to avoid the series sweep on Saturday at 2:00 pm at Lupton Stadium in Fort Worth. The live stream will be available on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with the radio call available on Double T 97.3 FM and in their listening area, as well as through The Varsity Network App.
TTU38 box score (1)