HOUSTON – Big swings and free passes made all the difference for the Red Raiders in Game 1 of the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic. In a matchup with Texas State that saw a combined 7 hit batsmen and 7 walks issued, for the Red Raiders is was situational bombs preceded by walks that ensured the victory.
Tech trailed 1-0 in the 2nd inning when Kurt Wilson and Nate Rombach worked back-to-back two-out walks on Bobcat starter Zachary Leigh. Cody Masters, tonight’s DH, stepped in and planted a first pitch tater beyond the Red Raider bullpen in right center field to give Tech the 3-1 lead.
“He got a pitch in the middle of the plate and was aggressive and hit it,” said Head Coach Tim Tadlock. “You’ve gotta like guys that are aggressive. The guy [Leigh] made a mistake 0-0, and he hit it.”
Masters has been working for a comeback over the course of 18 months as he’s continued to rehab a shoulder injury that has hampered his ability to lock down a corner outfield spot. Red Raider fans will remember Cameron Warren motoring home to score from first base against Arkansas in the 2019 College World Series. The part of that memory that wasn’t given the Titanic treatment was the go-ahead RBI triple that Masters pounded off of the top of the right-center field wall over the head of the eventual second overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, Heston Kjerstad, bringing Warren home.
Tadlock expanded on how far Masters has come. “I really felt like yesterday and today was the best he’s been in probably a year and a half. Just in his bat path and staying through the ball.”
Following the second inning, Leigh settled in and retired nine Red Raider batters in a row before allowing another baserunner in the sixth, but it was the seventh he’ll be thinking about until the chance arises to redeem himself. Bobcat bats had knocked around Texas Tech pitching in the intervening innings, running Andrew Devine after only 0.2 inning of work, and holding a 4-3 lead.
Leigh issued a free pass to Rombach in the form of a walk sandwiched between flyouts. Braxton Fulford, catching in his first game since Friday, February 26 hosting Houston Baptist, pounded a 3-1 offering over the left field wall and regaining the lead for the Red Raiders 5-4.
“Yeah it was really fun, I tell ya he put a couple good swings on some pitches,” said Tadlock. “I made the comment when he hit the 3-1 pitch out ‘that’s what a big leaguer does when he gets a 3-1 pitch in the middle of the plate.’ It’s been really fun to watch Braxton, just grow as he’s been here. He’s just a worker, he loves playing, continues to get better.”
Fulford has undoubtedly grown in his time wearing 26 for Texas Tech, but he may have grown a little this evening as well as he stepped in once again with two outs in the eighth inning and with Wilson on board following a leadoff walk, Fulford deposited another ball in the left field bleachers. This time it was on an 0-2 pitch and Leigh’s 101st of the evening, it would be his last.
This was Fulford’s second multi-homerun game in his career, the first coming on February 16, 2019 against the University of Oregon when he led the Red Raiders in a come-from-behind win to even the opening weekend series at 1-1.
The Red Raiders scratched one more run across in a game that was accentuated by homeruns but defined by free baserunners.
Following Fulford’s first dinger in the seventh inning, Dru Baker got aboard with a two-out single down the left field line. He was picked off at first base but a replay initiated by Baker overturned the out call as he clearly beat the play back to the bag. Jace Jung wore a pitch to get aboard and Dylan Neuse worked a 7-pitch walk to load the bases. Easton Murrell was then hit for his second time on the evening, but this one came with an RBI attached.
Red Raider pitching took a few lumps but found a rhythm in the final three innings. Starter Brandon Birdsell, who ultimately allowed 4 hits and 3 runs, did not walk a batter but he did hit two, neither of which scored. Birdsell retired the Bobcats in order in the first and third innings and overall looked sharper and more confident than his first outing of the season. His night ended after 4.2 innings when he hit a batter and gave up a two-out single to left field.
Andrew Devine struggled in relief giving up 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 HBP, and notching 2 strikeouts in his 0.2 innings of work. Derek Bridges worked out of a bases loaded jam left by Devine, but it was Hayde Key who took the mound in the seventh and the freshman out of Ridge Point High School was dealing. Key struck out the first four batters he faced and retired the Bobcats in order two innings in a row before allowing a leadoff double in the ninth, which he negated by retiring the rest in order including the top of the Texas State lineup.
Key ultimately struck out 5 in his 3 innings of one-hit baseball. He and Bridges were the only two pitchers, out of seven who made appearances in the game, not to issue any free rides to first base.
The Red Raiders will be back at it on Saturday as they face the Sam Houston State Bearkats at 3 p.m. in their second game of the season at Minute Maid Park. Patrick Monteverde is scheduled to take the mound for the Red Raidres. Tech is now 6-4 all time at Minute Maid and will carry a six-game winning streak into the rematch of the 2017 Lubbock Regional on Saturday.
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