Texas Tech (8-0) came into Sunday seeking their second consecutive four-game series sweep over the Western Illinois Leathernecks (1-7), after a big Saturday for Dillon Carter in his first two starts of the season, the junior from Argyle added more offensive fireworks and highlight reel defense to an already impressive weekend.
Game 1: Opportunistic Red Raiders Earn Series Opening Win
Game 2 & 3: Saturday Sweep Welcomes Back Carter
The Red Raiders fell behind early in the second start for Kyle Robinson, who was strong through the first 1.2, but the Leathernecks strung together two walks and three hits to put up a four-spot in the second. Tech did not respond in-kind and went into the third inning in a four-run hole.
Robinson turned into solid third and fourth innings facing only one hitter over the minimum, but Tech’s offense got to work in the third as well putting up eight runs on six hits, punctuated by a three-run Hudson White bomb, his first of the season. After batting around before recording an out in the third, the Red Raiders batted around again in the fourth putting up five runs on five hits, once again punctuated by a big home run, this time off the bat of Carter, his second bomb in as many days.
D”C” ya later, ball 👋@dilloncarter16 | #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/2DQJF4lqn3
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) February 26, 2023
Robinson got the surprise start Sunday when Bo Blessie was a late scratch due to arm soreness.
“Yeah we’ll see, we’re just going to kind of be day-to-day. We just wanted to push him back a day, he was a little sore, first start. Felt like it was the right thing to do,” explained Head Coach Tim Tadlock.
Ryan Free entered in relief of Robinson in the fifth and retired six in order with the help of a throwdown from White to catch a runner stealing second base. Andrew Devine, who earned his first win of the season, and Damian Bravo combined for a no-hit final three innings, ending a comeback bid by Western Illinois that ended Free’s day after three extra-base hits in the seventh.
Carter, who slashed .643/.684/.1.286 this weekend and is undoubtedly a serious contender for Big 12 Player of the Week, also flashed the leather. In the top of the eighth inning, Max Slavens sent a hard hit ball into the right-center field gap, Carter made the long run and went full-extension to make the catch and end the frame.
So nice, let’s see it twice 👏@dilloncarter16 | #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/WAxRuiCsHV
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) February 26, 2023
The storybook ending to put a bow on the day was thanks to Carter as well. After Bravo worked a ꓘ to turn the Western Illinois order over. Nick Mitchell, who was excellent with nine hits on the weekend, reached on an error at first base. Derek Botaletto followed with a flyout to Carter in shallow CF, he immediately fired behind Botaletto back to first base for the double play to secure the sweep.
Who else but @dilloncarter16 to end it 💪 pic.twitter.com/YC7hvPFwO8
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) February 26, 2023
“There’s no doubt he’s probably the best center fielder in all of college baseball,” said White of Carter. “Last year he struggled but this offseason he worked his tail off, he really put in a lot of time and effort, and he just worked his butt off offensively.”
Carter wasn’t the only big performer this weekend by any means. Freshman Gage Harrelson, who started all weekend in right field, slashed .471/.571/.647 in the series. Harrelson has eight collegiate starts under his belt, and he leads the Red Raiders with six multi-hit games in his very young career. Gavin Kash also continued to contribute mightily at the plate and is slugged .941 over the weekend, second only to Carter.
“It’s really fun to be a part of this team, everyone just has fun, like they should,” said White.
With the changing starting lineup and so many tools on this team, Tadlock has the difficult job of trying to get all of the pieces and skillsets on the field. As lineups change, the questions will abound about one player or another and if they will break back in.
“There’s a whole bunch of guys still haven’t pitched, there’s a bunch of guys haven’t really played enough to really evaulate it,” explained Tadlock. “We knew going into this that it was going to be very hard on guys because they’ve all played their whole life. And really right now, again, we’d like to get everybody firing on all cylinders if we can and be able to kind of do what you did with Vooletich today. You know, plug him in there in the leadoff spot for Hester and get Hester off his feet and he gets in there and has tough at-bats. Same thing with Woodcox over the last couple days. You want to get your whole roster where they’re really ready for that opportunity and prepared for that opportunity.””
The Red Raiders will be back at it in their first midweek action of 2023 hosting Air Force for two games on Tuesday and Wednesday. First pitch Tuesday is set for 6:30 PM, and the broadcast will be available on Big 12 Now on ESPN+, Double T 97.3 FM, and The Varsity App.
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