WACO – The Texas Tech Red Raiders’ (31-16, 11-7) two, three, and four hitters pounded home runs in the first, third, and fifth innings but it wasn’t enough to overcome a three-run first, four-run second, and four-run fourth by the Baylor Bears (22-22, 5-13). Tech, who improved to 10-2 in the first two games of Big 12 series with their wins Friday and Saturday, fell to 1-5 in Big 12 series finales as they missed out on the sweep in Waco Sunday.
Cole Stillwell snuck a one-out solo home run over the left-field wall to give Tech a 1-0 lead in the first. But Baylor responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame.
In addition to Stilwell, Jace Jung sent a towering solo home run to the opposite field to lead off the third and Ty Coleman, who barely missed going yard Saturday, sent a two-out two-run bomb to left field in the fifth to make it 11-4.
.@TyColeman7 gives us 2⃣ with home run number three on the afternoon for Tech.
T5 | BU 11, TTU 4 pic.twitter.com/PwCSBV3mlS
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) May 1, 2022
Trendan Parish (2-2) made his 19th appearance of the season but saw the first start of his collegiate career Sunday. After surrendering a leadoff single to Jack Pineda, Parish looked to settle in retiring the next two hitters via groundout and strikeout. But a two-out RBI-double tied the game and a walk and a two-RBI double gave the Bears the 3-1 lead. Parish walked one more but fanned Esteban Cardoza-Oquendo to end the frame.
Parish struggled further in the second inning issuing two walks and allowing a single before recording an out. A bases-clearing double pushed the lead to 7-1 in favor of the Bears.
Parish gave way to Brandon Beckel who turned in two innings in relief. A dying chopper back to Beckel saw him charge hard and make the glove-to-glove toss at the plate but the runner snuck in and review didn’t overturn it.
Beckel worked around a single in the third to allow no further damage and retired the first hitter in the fourth inning. But a one-out single and walk ended his day. Derek Bridges entered but walked the only batter he faced and Chase Hampton took over. Hampton also walked his first batter, this time hanging a run on the board. Back-to-back singles for Hampton scored three more with only one charged to him.
The sophomore from Kilgore inherited bases loaded with one out when he entered, so the difficult start is understandable if not ideal. From there Hampton was solid. He allowed three hits over the next 4 1/3 innings and worked around them successfully ultimately ending the day with 7 strikeouts. The Hampton seen Sunday in Waco is a far cry from the difficult start he had against West Virginia a week ago. This return to form is a welcome sight for a bullpen that has been struggling for answers.
While there have been bright spots for the Texas Tech bullpen and Sunday pitching in general, according to the Lubbock Avalanche Journal’s Don Williams, Tech pitchers have posted an 11.39 ERA in Big 12 series finales and starters those days an even more abysmal 12.71. No Texas Tech starter has lasted 5 innings in a Sunday start in conference play.
Hampton did leave the Red Raiders in a position to claw back out of the hole they found themselves in holding the Bears scoreless through the final four innings. The Tech offense scored the final five runs of the contest but was unable to capitalize fully when the opportunities presented themselves. It was another solid two-out hitting performance but even going 8-18 (.444) in those situations it wasn’t enough to close the gap the Bears built early. Tech was 2-9 (.222) on the day with runners in scoring position after going a combined 11-26 (.423) in the previous two games.
Stilwell, Coleman, Parker Kelly, and Dillon Carter all posted multi-hit days. Kelly followed a two-double day Saturday with two singles Sunday. Carter had two doubles, a run, and reached on a hit-by-pitch Sunday. He’s missed time due to injury and has platooned in center field with a mixture of other players, but it was his first multi-hit game since the Sunday matchup against Kent State on February 26 and the first game this year he’s had multiple extra-base hits.
The Red Raiders will be back in action Tuesday against the Abilene Christian (23-20) Wildcats in Abilene at 6:05 pm. The live stream will be available on the Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with the radio call available on Double T 97.3 FM and in their listening area, as well as through The Varsity Network App.
TTU47 Box Score