The Red Raiders (19-9, 3-5) came into Saturday with an opportunity to seal up the series after winning a wild 20-16 matchup Friday night. But this time, they were unable to overcome the Texas Christian’s onslaught as they pounded 13 hits, 10 of which were extra-base hits, and 5 of those were home runs en route to a 10-7 win to even the series at 1-1.
Red Raiders Win Series Opener for the Ages
TCU (17-10, 5-3) jumped on Tech starter Mason Molina (2-2) when Luke Boyers pounded solo home runs as the first and third batters he faced. Ultimately, Molina surrendered 7 earned runs with back-to-back doubles to start the third, another home run to start the fourth, and back-to-back base hits in the fifth before he gave way to Jase Lopez.
The junior also struggled against the Horned Frogs, surrendering a two run bomb, TCU’s fourth of the day as they built an 8-3 advantage.
Offensively, Tech got off to a slow start as seven Red Raider hitters went down in order to start the game. Tracer Lopez, Nolen Hester, and Gage Harrelson strung together three hits for Tech, add in a couple of free passes and Tech scratched three runs across in the third to make the game as close as it would ever get. Tech pulled within one run (4-3) at that point, but would never be that close again.
After Boyers mashed his second tater of the afternoon to start the sixth, giving TCU a 9-3 lead, Tech hung another crooked number on the board with a three-run frame of their own.
Austin Green led off with a hit-by-pitch and Gavin Kash pounded his 12th home run of the season, taking the lead in the Big 12 Conference. Ryan Brome and Lopez both took walks and Hester sent a two-out RBI single through the right side scored the final run of the frame and Tech made the score 9-6.
Your Big 12 leader in home runs 💸 @Gavinkash6
3rd of the weekend, 12th of the season. pic.twitter.com/NHjhdhHBK4
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) April 1, 2023
Kevin Bazzell led off the seventh with a double and Kash hit him home on a fielder’s choice shot. The Red Raiders would manage two more hits over the following two-plus innings, but would plate no more runs.
One bright spot on the day was Kyle Robinson. The opening-day starter has struggled in starts and out of the bullpen with the exception of a brilliant performance during the 16-inning marathon against Texas A&M in Houston. But Sunday, K-Rob entered in a bases-loaded situation in the eighth and struck out the lone batter he faced to escape the frame unscathed.
Entered in a big spot and delivered 💪 @krob024 pic.twitter.com/8gj79l3IUr
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) April 1, 2023
“Really like Kyle there,” said Head Coach Tim Tadlock. “He came in and made some pitches with bases loaded, gave us a chance there. A kid with a really good arm obviously, you start him opening day you feel like he’s got a chance to be really good right? And so, maybe we’re finding him a role for him, back there in the back end of the game if you want to say. It’s not easy to come in in that spot and he came in and executed some pitches.”
The ball was hit in the ninth and he performed well, executing pitches and walking only one. Owen Washburn, getting another start in right field, turned in a web gem to record the final out as he pushed hard to the foul line and made a beautiful diving catch in foul territory.
Wash makes the catch 👏 @OwenWashburn25 pic.twitter.com/cQ4UefEROX
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) April 1, 2023
It’ll be a rubber match on Sunday on Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park as Tech and TCU both look to take the series victory. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm with the broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the radio call available on Double T 97.3 FM in Lubbock and on The Varsity App.
TTU28Box