MANHATTAN – There were more balls leaving the yard Thursday night than a Barry Bond’s batting practice circa 2001 as the Red Raiders (20-4, 3-1) clouted 6 dingers on the evening en route to a 17-1 drubbing of the Big 12 Conference foe in Tech’s first true road test of the season. It was the highly-touted left-hander Jordan Wicks getting the start for Kansas State (13-11, 0-4). He looked to live up to his billing as a top 10 MLB Draft pick fanning 6 Red Raiders in the first two frames. But Dylan Neuse and Kurt Wilson, who both led off their respective innings with doubles, were the harbinger of things to come.
With two outs in the 3rd, reigning two-time Big 12 Player of the Week Dru Baker pounded a no-doubter to right-center field and was immediately followed by Jace Jung going oppo taco to left. The good guys plated 6-7-8 in the order in the 4th and ran Wicks after the 5th. The all-world pitcher struck out 9 Red Raiders, but gave up 5 earned runs and was pushed up to 105 pitches in his outing.
KState relief didn’t fare much better and it was an 8-run 7th, the seventh inning of the season of at least 7 runs plated, that blew the contest wide open. Jung, who came into the game tied for 2nd in the Big 12 with 8 home runs, was trailing the Wildcats’ Zach Kokoska who had 9. Jung tied Kokoska with his first shot, but the Wildcat right-fielder took the lead back with a solo shot in the 4th. The San Antonio native decided to settle that debate post-haste. Jung’s brother Josh famously uses visualization techniques to improve his game. Perhaps the younger Jung saw a smiling Bearded face leaving the right hand of Jaxon Passino, but whatever the motivation, he smoked two taters in the inning, taking the Big 12 home run lead and putting together his first three-home run performance of his college career.
Jung’s two-dinger inning, the second for a Red Raider in less than a week as Drew Woodcox did the same against USF last Friday, was not the only impressive feat by Red Raider hitters in the 7th. Following Jung’s leadoff jimmy jack, Wilson went yard and Eason Murrell followed with one of his own as well. For the second time in 2021, Texas Tech batters hit back-to-back-to-back home runs, as they clouted four in the 7th inning. Jung’s final home run was the only one not of the solo variety, as it scored Baker who’d reached on an error.
Baker, in running out that error, pulled up slightly coming into first base. Tim Tadlock pulled him out of the game, much to the chagrin of Baker whose face told the story of his intent to continue playing. One of the nation’s leading hitters and base stealers, Baker’s potential injury didn’t appear too serious, but could sideline him for the series. Baker carries an 11-game hitting streak and notched his 8th straight multi-hit game as well on Thursday.
Tim Tadlock also used the opportunity to help train some guys to come off of the bench. Max Marusak, Braydon Runion, Cole Stilwell, and Nate Rombach all ended the game in addition to Parker Kelly who replaced Baker following the injury. All reached on a combination of hits, walks, and errors.
The Texas Tech defense, who entered the game as first in the country in double plays turned, found themselves with little to do as Brandon Birdsell was exceptional going five full innings with 2 hits and 1 run. Micah Dallas and Chase Webster combined for a no-hitter in the final four innings. Birdsell improves to 4-1 on the season, the transfer from San Jacinto College showed some extra fire on the mound Friday, shooing some batters back to the dugout and getting chippy with home plate umpire Chris Coskey when he granted a very late time to a Wildcat batter early.
Birdsell has become a strong Friday night contributor for Texas Tech and pushed his ERA from 3.25 to 3.03 in this outing. Other than Kokoska’s solo shot, Birdsell never allowed a leadoff runner aboard, nor did the combined relievers, gave up only one other hit, a single, and walked one batter.
“It’s a tough role for these guys, all of them come from places where they’ve been ‘the guy,'” explained Tadlock earlier in the season. “It’s something that guys have to learn to do. But the opportunity to come off the bench is something that we like to let guys learn how to do. It’s definitely not something that’s easy to do.”
Texas Tech will face the Wildcats again as they seek their second straight Big 12 series win on Friday night at 6 p.m.. The game will once again be broadcast on the Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and Double T 97.3FM.
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