In the midst of the largest music festival in
the western hemisphere, South by Southwest, the Texas Tech Red Raiders did
something in Austin that had not been done since the 2001 season.
Texas Tech defeated the University of Texas
in a series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field down in Austin,
Texas.
Pitching seemed to be the major theme over
the weekend as the Tech pitching staff allowed a mere four runs over the three
game set. Texas scored in only three of the 27 innings they stepped in the
batter’s box, progressively gaining the Red Raiders more and more confidence as
the weekend went on.
However, the strangest part of the weekend
was the fact that the Red Raiders won two of the three games, but actually lost
the one in which right-handed ace Trey Masek (3-0. 0.22 ERA) started.
Here is a quick look at each game from this
past weekend:
Friday,
March 15th
Texas Tech
1, Texas 0
Texas Tech looked to come into Austin and get
an opening night win for the first time since 1994 at UFCU Disch-Falk
Field and they did just that.
The offense was definitely at a premium for
both sides; however, Texas Tech scored just enough to win the opening game.
Behind the exceptional pitching performance
of Sophomore right-hander Dominic Moreno, Tech
squeaked out a 1-0 victory on Friday night in front of 6,550 hostile Longhorn
fans.
Moreno (2-1) finished the night going seven
innings, while allowing just four hits and no runs to solidify the win in his
first career Big 12 outing.
There wasn’t a whole lot of scoring on the
night as the lone run of the ballgame came on a Jarrard
Poteete solo blast that sailed over the right center
field wall to ensure the victory.
That proved to be enough as Jerad McCrummen entered the game
in the eighth and shut the door on the Longhorns potential ninth inning rally.
Saturday,
March 16th
Texas 2, Texas
Tech 1
Game 2 of the series was one in which Texas
Tech looked to clinch the series as they sent their ace right-hander Trey Masek
from nearby Giddings, TX to the hill.
However, Texas would quickly end Masek’s scoreless inning streak at 32, while tagging him
for one run on three hits in the first inning.
Masek would settle in though, as he pitched
eight innings, scattering six hits on one run, but also gave up a season high
four walks on the afternoon.
With the game all knotted up at 1-1 in the
top of the ninth inning, the Red Raiders had a great scoring opportunity with
runners on 2nd and 3rd with only one out.
However, Texas head coach Augie
Garrido went to his bullpen for Junior All-American
closer Cory Kneble who quickly shut the door on any
sort of Tech rally with consecutive strikeouts to end the inning.
UT would then walk off with the victory in
the bottom of the ninth as Texas pinch hitter Jacob Felts would end the game on
a double that just sailed off of center fielder Brett Bell’s glove, plating
Madison Carter from first base.
Sunday,
March 17th
Texas Tech
4, Texas 2
The rubber match between Tech and Texas got a
little chippy in the late innings, but the visiting
Red Raiders would end up silencing the large crowd at UFCU Disch-Falk
Field with a 4-2 victory.
Freshman right-hander Matt Withrow got the nod for Texas Tech, however; he would go
just two innings, allowing two runs on three hits.
Coach Tadlock then decided to call on the 6’7
lefty Jonny Drozd, which proved to be the deciding
factor in the game as he would secure the win for Texas Tech. Drozd went 5.1 innings and seemingly shutting down the
Texas offense.
The Tech offense also got in the mix early in
the game. After UT designated hitter Ben Johnson skied a 2-run blast over the
left field wall in the second inning.
Texas Tech then quickly responded with two of
their own on a Bryant Burleson single and a Devon Conley sacrifice bunt, which
tied up the game 2-2.
The Red Raiders would then add on to their
lead as Jarrard Poteete
would strike again on a two out, RBI single through the right side, plating
Devon Conley.
Drozd only allowed four hits on the afternoon and made some outstanding
defensive plays which gave the Raiders more and more confidence as the game went
on. Drozd also earned Big 12 newcomer of the week as
he went 12.1 innings, along with a perfect 0.00 ERA.
Three Stars
of the Weekend
#1 Dominic Moreno (7 IP, 4 Hits, 0 Runs)
#2 Jonny Drozd (5.1
IP, 4 Hits, 0 Runs)
#3 Jerad McCrummen (3.2 IP, 2 Hits, 2 Saves)
This team is undoubtedly a different squad
than year’s past. Not only from a talent perspective, from an attitude
perspective. That kind of attitude is something that has been missing for
almost a decade among the Red Raider baseball program and it appears they are
on the rise.
If you haven’t wandered out to Dan Law Field
at Rip Griffin Park yet this season, now is as good of time as any as Texas
Tech will play host to the No. 18 Arizona State on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m.
Texas Tech head football coach Kliff
Kingsbury will throw out the first pitch and the game will be televised on Fox College
Sports.