It was a golden opportunity to complete the sweep of #23 Iowa (11-3), but the Hawkeyes had a different idea and pushed hard to avoid that outcome as they downed Texas Tech (14-3) by a run. The loss snapped a 14-game home winning streak dating back to the 2022 season. Texas Tech’s last loss at Rip Griffin Park came against Oklahoma on May 20, 2022, the second matchup of that final Big 12 series.
Game 1: Dillon Carter’s Career Day Leads Tech Past #23 Iowa
Game 2: Late Heroics Seal Series Win Over Hawkeyes
It was a ballgame tied at 7-7 heading into the top of the ninth inning Sunday, but ultimately it was defensive miscues that did the Red Raiders in. Of their three errors, two came in the pivotal ninth inning. After pinch-hitting Zac Vooletich for Tracer Lopez, Head Coach Tim Tadlock sent Cade McGarrh in at shortstop. McGarrh misplayed a ground ball as it got past him into left field and he was slow to come up with it allowing the go-ahead run to score. A tough error on a play at third base and three hits combined to score two more in the frame and send Tech to the bottom of the ninth with a 10-7 deficit.
Kevin Bazzell set the table with a leadoff walk and Austin Green pounded a screaming home run to the opposite field to make it a one-run game in the bottom of the ninth, but Tech would find no more success against LHP Cade Obermueller and he posted back-to-back strikeouts and worked a groundout to earn his first win of the season.
The Red Raiders booked four home runs in the Sunday matchup, including a three-run bomb from Gavin Kash in the third inning, giving the Red Raiders a 5-4 lead at the time. Dillon Carter contributed a solo shot in the sixth and Bazzell one of his own in the seventh.
That’s another KA$H $MASH 💣@Gavinkash6 | #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/8EHwglPEMr
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) March 12, 2023
Texas Tech had answers at the plate, but couldn’t find one on the mound that could hold down the Hawkeyes long enough to pull away. Kyle Robinson got the start, his third of the season, and unfortunately, he struggled again. In three starts this season (Gonzaga, Western Illinois, Iowa), Robinson has posted a combined line of 9.0 IP, 14H, 14R, 12ER, 5BB, 9K. By contrast, in his one relief outing against Texas A&M in Houston he went 6.0 IP, 1H, 0R, 3BB, 6K.
After Robinson exited in the fourth inning, Tech sent six more arms to the mound looking for an answer. Of those, Andrew Devine and Jase Lopez had the best outings combining for 4 2/3 innings, 4 hits, 1 earned run, 1 walk, and 6 strikeouts.
Errors continue to be an issue for Texas Tech, they have been charged with 35 on the season. Generally, Texas Tech has built a big enough margin for error to overcome those miscues, but as in the extra innings game against Texas A&M, the mistakes came at the wrong time Sunday and Tech was unable to work past them.
Adding injury to insult, Carter hurt his left hand diving for a fly ball hit into the right-center field gap in the top of the ninth. The outcome of the x-rays will be incoming, but it’s a gut-wrenching loss of a guy who has been exceptional so far this season at the plate and in the field.
The Red Raiders will be back in action in the midweek hosting the UT Arlington Mavericks Tuesday evening at 6:30 pm and Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 pm. The radio broadcast will be available on Double T 97.3 FM in Lubbock and on The Varsity App and the television stream will be available on ESPN+.
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