HOUSTON – After losing their first game of the season to the Rice Owls on Friday, Mason Molina (2-0) took the ball for the Red Raiders (11-1) Saturday on a mission to take down the Wolverines of Michigan (4-5). A career-high 11 strikeouts later, he had earned his second win of the season and given the Red Raiders the opportunity to leave Houston with a winning record in the Shriners Children’s College Classic.
Tech Falls Just Short to Rice in Pitcher’s Duel
The sophomore lefthander from California turned in six strong innings for Texas Tech, facing the minimum in three of his five frames. If not for an error in the fifth that put the leadoff man aboard that would have made five innings of three-up three-down baseball for Molina.
He came out of the gates hot, striking out the side in the first and then the run support came quickly as Tech plated two in the first after Nolen Hester walked to start the frame and a Gage Harrelson double put two men in scoring position. Kevin Bazzell and Austin Green knocked in the first two with an RBI groundout and RBI single.
After once again dropping the Wolverines in order in the second, Molina got more offensive cushion in the bottom half of that frame. Back-to-back singles from Dillon Carter and Will Burns set the table and another double from Harrelson, this one the ground rule variety with an RBI attached, scored one. Bazzell added another RBI groundout and Green came through with another RBI base knock, this his first of two triples to make it a 5-0 lead for the Red Raiders. Bazzell followed in the eighth with a triple of his own making it three in the game for Tech.
That’s the first three-triple day for the Red Raiders since March 9, 2019, against Wichita State. That makes nine three-baggers on the season for the Red Raiders after posting 15 in all of 2022.
Molina scuffled through a tough three-hit third that included his first and only walk of the day and a hit batsman, but solid defense at the plate ended the threat. With runners on the corners, a wild pitch got past Dylan Maxcey behind the right-handed batter. He hustled for the ball and dove back into the plate to beat the runner for the out to end the frame, saving a run that would have made it a one-run game.
NOT IN HIS HOUSE❗️@DMaxcey1 saves a run for the Red Raiders.#NCAABaseball x 🎥 ATTSportsNetSW / @TTU_Baseballpic.twitter.com/xzLkRr8MpE
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) March 4, 2023
Bazzell didn’t only flash the bat Saturday, he flashed the leather as well. Bazzell has put in the work to transition from catcher to show his potential as an elite third baseman.
He spoke to this transition in postgame availability after a win over Air Force.
“I played short growing up and third’s a little different throw,” explained Bazzell. “Sometimes I come up on a ball and it feels a little weird, but other than that it feels good. I’m trying to stay real loose over there and I’m getting more comfortable every day.
Obviously, when I came over here [to Texas Tech] I knew Hudson was here. And then Dylan came in he’s a good catcher, good hitter. And I just want to win, I don’t care where I play, if the team’s winning that’s all I care about. “
Light work 👊 @KevinBazzell
📺: @ATTSportsNetSW // @astros pic.twitter.com/gzMW7QbuMn
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) March 4, 2023
Defensively there was a new look in the middle infield for the Red Raiders. Burns got the start at shortstop and Tracer Lopez slid into the second base spot, transitioning Green to designated hitter. Ty Coleman did make his first appearance since last weekend against Western Illinois, pinch-hitting and wearing one to lead off the seventh, but he was immediately pinch-run for by Cade McGarrh, who took over second base in the next inning.
Molina, who was very efficient tossing only 91 pitches in his six innings of work, gave way to Trendan Parish who split two hits and two runs across 2 2/3 innings of work. A leadoff double in the ninth followed by a groundout and flyout left Parish with two outs and a runner 90 feet away. Zane Petty entered to slam the door but a hit batsman, RBI triple, and walk ended his day without an out. Jase Lopez took the bump and struck out the final batter to end the late Michigan rally.
Ultimately, it was a dominating performance by the Red Raiders with 13 combined strikeouts by the pitching staff and four extra-base hits in an eleven-hit day for Texas Tech. The win makes the all-time record for Red Raider Baseball 9-2 against Michigan, the only two losses coming in the College World Series in 2019.
They will be back at it Sunday evening at 7:00 PM facing #15 Texas A&M (6-4). The Aggies are also 1-1 on the weekend after losing 5-14 to the #14 Louisville Cardinals Friday and run-ruling Rice 13-1 on Saturday. Radio broadcast with Jamie Lent and Dr. Mike Gustafson will be available on The Varsity Network App and Double T 97.3 FM in Lubbock. The television broadcast is available on AT&T SportsNet Southwest and on the Houston Astros website.
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