The North Dakota State Bisons (8-20) faced a mountain of travel issues in getting to Lubbock, with approximately half of the team not making it to town until Friday. Despite the travel woes, NDSU took down Texas Tech (20-10) by a score of 8-1, outhitting the Red Raiders 13 hits to 4 and tying the lowest hit output of the season by Texas Tech which came against Rice at the Shriners Children’s College Classic.
The Red Raiders dropped to 2-7 this season when being outhit by their opponent and 0-6 when scoring less than five runs.
Brendan Girton (2-1) had the ball to start for Texas Tech and it was a strong start. He retired the first six Bisons he faced in order and tallied two strikeouts along the way. But after Austin Green pounded a leadoff home run in the second inning to give the Red Raiders a 1-0 lead, Girton surrendered a leadoff double, a walk, and fielder’s choice, which were followed by a sacrifice fly and another double. These gave the Bisons the 2-1 lead and from there they never looked back.
It’s outta here 👋
7th HR of the season for @aust1ngreen_ pic.twitter.com/XjoWs8wT2h
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) April 8, 2023
After Green’s dinger, the Red Raiders managed only two more hits coming in the fifth and seventh, both off of the bat of Owen Washburn.
Girton took not only his first loss of 2023, but also the first loss of his Red Raider career.
After the game, Head Coach Tim Tadlock gave credit to the Bisons’ starter Cade Feeney (3-3), and their sole reliever Skyler Reidinger who earned his third save.
“I think those guys commanded the fastball. Feeney commanded the changeup and the slider. He’s been very good through the year, no big surprise that he went out and went six innings today,” said Tadlock. “I thought he was as advertised today.”
For the Red Raiders, Taber Fast, Ethan Coombes, and Derek Bridges combined for four scoreless innings in their relief appearances despite surrendering six combined hits. Of the Bisons’ 13 hits on the night, seven were doubles and at one point six of their eight hits at the time were two-baggers. Going into the ninth inning it was a 4-1 ballgame with Tech’s offense feeling like they still had an opportunity to break out.
Andrew Devine took the mound and after a quick groundout to shortstop for the first out, an error at third base put a man aboard. Back-to-back singles and a walk plated a run and Devine gave way to Garrett Crowley after he struck out the NDSU nine-hole hitter looking. Crowley inherited bases loaded with two outs, but and RBI hit batsman and two-run double made it a four-run frame that all but dashed Tech’s comeback hopes.
Ultimately, a leadoff walk in the bottom of the ninth was negated by a double play and Tech went down in order for their fourth time of the game to end it at the 8-1 score.
It was a night with a new look defensively as third-baseman Kevin Bazzell caught his first game as a Red Raider and did an excellent job. He was tested by the bunt and on the basepaths. He found himself on the wrong side of some bang-bang calls but did throw out the first base stealer of the game at second base and almost got another at third on a double steal executed by the Bison in the ninth.
That throw was on. the. money.@KevinBazzell showing off the gun in his first start at catcher 😤 pic.twitter.com/rsgZEOmaJA
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) April 8, 2023
“We just thought the stolen base attempts have been really high. I thought he caught really good. I do think he’s the best thrower out of the three and have thought that for some time,” explained Tadlock.
Hudson White filled in at third base in place of Bazzell and Zac Vooletich got the nod for the start as the designated hitter. White booked an error and reached twice on two walks, Vooletich went 0-for-3 on the evening. Additionally, Bazzell went 0-for-4, ending a 29-game streak of reaching safety. Nolen Hester was 0-for-3 with a walk, ending a 10-game hitting streak for the leadoff man.
The Red Raiders will have a chance to even the series at 2:00 pm Saturday as they start the front end of a doubleheader with the Bisons. The broadcast will be available on ESPN+ with radio call available on Double T 97.3 FM in Lubbock and on The Varsity App.
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