The #23 Iowa Hawkeyes (10-2) have been one of the best pitching teams in college baseball so far this season and the Red Raiders (13-2) handled them easily with an offensive explosion.
“The kid they threw tonight beat us last year. Threw the ball really well and punched a bunch of guys out,” said Head Coach Tim Tadlock about the Iowa starter. “So yeah, I was really proud of the way the guys handled him…we put together some good at-bats. He’s a tough matchup, he’s got a good changeup and good fastball.”
Texas Tech was led offensively by Dillon Carter whose career night included two three-run bombs off the bat of the junior from Argyle.
“They’re [the swings] really big, and the guys that were in front of him were really big,” said Tadlock “I mean, things like that happen. A lineup has nine guys and those guys in front of him got on base and set it up and he put a good swing on a couple balls, hit ’em both in the same spot.”
Carter’s first big fly came in the second inning. Owen Washburn, who got the start at designated hitter, worked a leadoff walk and Hudson White followed with a single to set the table. Carter battled into a full count and turned a payoff pitch around, sneaking a long shot into the visitors’ bullpen to make it a 3-1 game in favor of Tech.
In the fifth, Carter led off with a walk, by the time the Red Raiders batted back around five runs had been scored. Cade McGarrh (pinch running for Austin Green) stood on second base and White had reached on an error. After a pitching change, Carter took two balls and then turned around the third offering into a towering shot to the opposite field, just like the first bomb of the evening.
DC connects on his second 3-run 💣 of the night!@dilloncarter16 | #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/8QuRuJDWNo
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) March 11, 2023
It was Carter’s first collegiate multi-home run game and he doubled his previous mark with a career-high six RBIs.
“I feel like the past few ABs I’ve been trying to get the head out and do more damage than I need to and just kind of get back to basics and that’s really where my true power is,” explained Carter after the game. “So it was good to kind of feel that again and just be able to pick up our guys.”
Brendan Girton got the start for Texas Tech Friday evening and he did need his teammates to pick him up. He struggled with his command and lasted only three innings. He gave up two earned runs, walked five batters, and struck out two, none of which are what we’ve come to expect from the big righthander. Josh Sanders turned in a hitless relief inning and then Ryan Free took the ball. Free was excellent striking out four in two innings giving up only one hit in his outing and he ultimately earned his first win of the season.
Defensively, White gunned down a baserunner at second base and the Red Raiders turned their NCAA-leading twenty-first double play in the second inning.
Hudson White ☝️ pic.twitter.com/YjhU7ZGsgz
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) March 11, 2023
Carter wasn’t the only one with a big day at the plate. Freshman shortstop Will Burns started with two strikeouts, but he hit his first collegiate double in the sixth and plated a run, and then followed in the eighth with his first collegiate triple.
“You’re talking about a guy who’s supposed to be in high school and he’s getting going and getting his timing,” said Tadlock of Burns’s performance. “He’s been making pretty good decisions 0n what pitches he swings at I think now you’re starting to see some timing come into play.”
That thing was SMOKED 😤
First career double for @WillBurns2023. pic.twitter.com/RhNxusR3Ap
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) March 11, 2023
Gage Harrelson had another multi-hit game as did Gavin Kash who also had two RBIs, those two are tied for the team lead with nine multi-hit games apiece.
Not to be outdone, Kevin Bazzell also had a multi-hit day as he went 3-6, 2R.
The Red Raiders outhit the Hawkeyes 15 to 6, matching the highest hit total they’ve surrendered this season, previously in a 0-6 loss to Sam Houston State.
Texas Tech and Iowa will be back at it Saturday at 2:00 pm at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park. The broadcast will be available on Double T 97.3 FM and The Varsity App and for streaming on ESPN+.
TTU15Box
