AUSTIN – The #14 Red Raiders (18-5, 2-2) put together a valiant defensive effort Friday in Austin, but one swing in the sixth changed the complexion of the game and a difficult performance out of the bullpen helped the Longhorns (16-7, 1-0) grab a 6-2 victory to open the series.
Brendan Girton got the start for Texas Tech and was not at his best, giving up one run on five hits, walking one, and striking out only one in 5 1/3 innings of work. He gave way to Ryan Free (2-2) who gave up a home run to the first batter he faced, scoring a baserunner belonging to Girton for his second earned run and giving the Longhorns a 2-1 lead. Despite not having his best stuff, Girton battled mightily and strung together a start good enough to give the Red Raiders a chance to earn the victory.
Texas pitching would have something to say about those victory plans, however, as Longhorn ace Lucas Gordon (3-0) was excellent again. He fanned eight Red Raider hitters and stranded five, including leaving the bases loaded in the fourth inning. Gordon turned in his longest appearance of the season running up to 107 pitches, he gave way to redshirt junior Zane Morehouse after surrendering a go-ahead solo moonshot to Gavin Kash, the first dinger hit off of Gordon this year.
Gonna need a 🔭 to find this one.@Gavinkash6 puts us in front. pic.twitter.com/cwDeeCjS1Q
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) March 25, 2023
The righthander Morehouse was perhaps even better than the lefty Gordon. Running up past 95mph, Morehouse appeared to get better as his appearance went on seeing his velocity tick up retiring all 10 Texas Tech hitters he faced in order. His appearance culminated in a two-strikeout frame in the ninth to squash any hopes of a miracle rally.
The Red Raiders managed six hits on the evening, two of which belonged to Kevin Bazzell, the only Tech hitter with a multi-hit game. Bazzell joined Kash (2) and Ty Coleman (3) as the only Red Raiders to reach safely more than once Friday. The Red Raiders turned in another clean error-free game, but after Bazzell tied the game in the fifth with an RBI double to right field, he failed to ask for time at second base and was tagged out when he stepped off the bag to end the frame. The mental mistake cost Tech a runner in scoring position in what was then a 1-1 game.
Fortune looked to favor Tech early when four line drives in the first four innings were gloved in the infield, two of the inning-ending variety. Adding those fortunate plays in with excellent defensive play overall it appeared the Red Raiders were ready to slog out a tight one all the way through. Tracer Lopez was especially smooth at shortstop, demonstrating his increasing comfort with the position that he seems to have locked down at this point in the season.
Video of said nice plays. https://t.co/XuyI59uomK pic.twitter.com/F8L02WBa6X
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) March 25, 2023
But the middle of the Longhorns’ lineup was exceptional as Garrett Guillemette and Porter Brown combined for five of Texas’ seven hits on the evening, including a go-ahead two-run bomb in the sixth.
After surrendering the home run, Free retired five Longhorn batters in order and gave way to Kyle Robinson to start the eighth. The sophomore struggled out of the gates walking the first two batters he faced. After a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, Tech intentionally walked Brown to put the force on at every bag. But Robinson gave up a two-run double to right field and a sacrifice fly would tack on the final run for the Longhorns.
Comparatively, the Longhorns were 3-8 (.375) leading off to Tech’s 1-9 (.111), and adding insult to injury, the Red Raiders got no other leadoff men aboard by other means while the Longhorns led off two additional innings with baserunners via walks. With runners on base, Tech went 1-10 (.100), a paltry showing compared to the Texas performance of 4-11 (.364).
On the bright side for Texas Tech, the Longhorns don’t have another like Gordon, who Dr. Mike Gustafson compared in part to former Red Raider ace and National Pitcher of the Year Steven Gingery on the radio broadcast of the game.
Texas Tech will look to even the series Saturday, first pitch is set for 2:30 pm on the Longhorn Network. The radio broadcast will be available on Double T 97.3 FM in Lubbock and on The Varsity App.
TTU23