As far as Dylan Neuse could surmise, there was no reason for Texas Tech to do anything drastically different Sunday.
The 6th-ranked Red Raiders came to the plate in the 5th inning after they had just coughed up a lead that they seized right away against South Florida in the weekend series finale at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
Neuse stepped into the batter’s box to do what he and Texas Tech have done consistently well all season on the way to one of the more impressive starts in recent program history.
Sparked by their leadoff man’s leadoff walk in the 5th that generated the go-ahead run and his run-scoring single an inning later, the Red Raiders methodically pieced together a 7-4 victory to complete the sweep against the Bulls and win for the 19th time in the last 20 games.
Neuse and torrid Dru Baker scored twice apiece, Braxton Fulford chased runs home in his first two at-bats (one with a no-doubt solo blast) and Texas Tech took advantage of a pair of South Florida errors for two other runs in a less-than-spectacular, but efficient triumph that showed the Red Raiders’ ability to grind out a successful performance.
To get that done, Texas Tech (19-4) had to respond to a mid-game USF rally that knotted the score 4-4. The Bulls (9-12) pushed three runs across in the top of the 5th inning to even things up after the Red Raiders had scored a run in each of the initial four frames.
Were there any spirited discussions, fiery rants or voodoo relied on before Texas Tech came up to hit? Nope, just more of what makes the Red Raiders rattle and hum.
“I don’t think it was really a response,” Neuse said. He was 0-for-2 before his walk in the 5th. “We just kept doing what we were doing all game – hitting hittable pitches.”
Neuse and Cal Conley provided arguably the biggest swings of the game on a sun-drenched Sunday afternoon.
After the leadoff free pass in the 5th, Conley took a strike from South Florida reliever Orion Kerkering then rammed a screaming line drive to right-center field that smacked off the wall to easily score Neuse with the go-ahead run.
Then in the 6th, Dillon Carter set up the inning by drawing a leadoff walk and moving up on a passed ball, Drew Woodcox zipped a single through the left side and Neuse flared a blooper just over the left side of the infield for his first RBI since March 13, a stretch of seven games.
“I’m not too worried about the numbers as long as I’m getting on and contributing in some way,” Neuse said. “Every day I try to do the same thing: Help my team in any way I can.”
Those contributions from the pre-season Big 12 Conference Player of the Year were vital, but also part of a pass-the-baton approach that is emblematic of a team that knows how to find different ways to win.
Seven Red Raiders produced at least one hit Sunday, five scored at least one run and four finished with at least one RBI.
“It definitely helps that guys were having competitive at-bats – came up with some hits when we needed it, stole some bases,” Texas Tech coach Tim Tadlock said.
“Manufacturing runs can be good.”
Same is true about turn-off-the-faucet relief work, and the Red Raiders got plenty of that to leave the Bulls frustrated.
Texas Tech starting pitcher Mason Montgomery exited with one out in the 5th inning with the bags full after surrendering a pair of singles and a walk. Tadlock handed the ball to Andrew Devine to face the heart of the USF lineup, and after striking out Carmine Lane, the Red Raider righty wobbled briefly when he walked in a run and allowed Roberto Pena’s two-run game-tying single.
After that, though, Devine, Ryan Sublette and Chase Hampto brick-walled the Bulls.
Devine retired Nick Gonzales on a comebacker and logged a scoreless 6th. Sublette came on and hung up a pair of 0s. And Hampton breezed through the 9th 1-2-3. Over the last 4-plus innings, the Red Raider bullpen trio mowed down 13 of the last 15 South Florida hitters.
Tadlock said the emphasis for the relievers was to jump ahead quickly in the count and rely on secondary pitches for strikes.
“I thought Andrew came in and really executed pitches,” he said. “Sublette threw the ball well, as did Hampton.”
All of which blended together for a victory that won’t supply a lot of fodder for a highlight reel but could be the kind of performance that is valuable when the Red Raiders aren’t playing at their highest level.
“Every guy that goes out there tries to do their job,” Neuse said. “We found the bats this weekend much better than we did last week.”
Up next for Texas Tech is the first true road trip of the season with a three-game set at Kansas State starting Thursday in Manhattan. The Wildcats (13-10) will be licking some wounds after an 0-3 weekend at Oklahoma State.
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