The No. 3 Texas Tech baseball team picked up a two-game sweep of UNLV after a walk-off win on Wednesday afternoon at Rip Griffin Park, defeating the Rebels, 5-4, in 10 innings.
The Red Raiders (19-4), earned the win with a bases loaded walk to junior infielder Michael Davis, scoring freshman infielder Josh Jung to finish the midweek series at 2-0. It was the third walk-off victory for Tech this season, previously moving past Cal on Feb. 27 and then-No. 2 LSU on March 5.
It was part of a two-run 10th for Tech, who trailed going into the bottom of the frame after a two-out single from UNLV’s Squier scored the go-ahead run to make it 4-3. The Rebels (10-13) were doomed in the bottom half of the inning by five walks, one intentional, as the first Red Raider came across on a walk to sophomore outfielder Cody Farhat to score senior outfielder Ryan Long to tie the game.
Tech tallied five hits from five different players in Wednesday’s win. Davis crossed home plate twice after reaching three times, twice via walk and one on an error by the left fielder on a deep fly ball to left field. The Red Raiders were walked nine times in the matinee game.
Freshman right-hander Caleb Freeman got the starting nod, going 2.0 innings, allowing three runs, one earned, on four hits, while striking out one. It was his first start of the year and longest outing of the season. Junior righty Jose Quezada was credited with his second win of the year after tossing 2.0 IP, striking out one and allowing a run. In between were Parker Mushinski, Erikson Lanning and John McMillon, who combined for 6.0 innings of three-hit ball, while ringing up seven batters.
The Rebels got on the board first in the opening frame, leading off the game with a double to left-center from Isbel. A grounder from Stott moved Isbel over to third and a single through the right side from Trinidad plated him for the early 1-0 lead.
UNLV added two more in the third to go ahead 3-0. A four-pitch walk to Allen and a stolen base put a runner in scoring position early in the frame. A single from Isbel to right field would’ve put runners on the corners, but an attempt to throw out Isbel heading to second went into center field, allowing Allen to score and Isbel to move over to third. The Rebels plated their second run of the frame with a groundout to second.
Tech got two back in the bottom of the fourth to cut the deficit to 3-2. Gardner began the frame with a four-pitch walk and was advanced to second by a grounder to shortstop. With two away in the inning, Davis lifted a deep fly ball to the warning track that was dropped by the left fielder, allowing Gardner to cross home for the first run of the inning. Davis would score the second run thanks to a single through the left side of the field by junior outfielder Connor Beck.
The Red Raiders made it a new ball game in the bottom of the seventh, tying the game at three. Davis got the inning started by working into a full count and drawing a leadoff walk. After a sacrifice bunt from Beck, Davis picked up his second run of the afternoon behind a pinch-hit RBI double from freshman Michael Berglund to left center to knot it up.
With Wednesday’s score, the Red Raiders have now won five in-a-row, improving to 11-1 at Rip Griffin Park.
Tech hits the road again this weekend for their second of three-straight weekend trips away from Lubbock, taking on Wichita State at Eck Stadium on March 24-27.
COURTESY OF TEXAS TECH ATHLETICS
