Texas Tech sophomore outfielder Tanner Gardner was named the Big 12 Player of the Week on Monday afternoon while freshman right-handed pitcher Davis Martin collected top newcomer honors, the league office announced.
The weekly award was the first career accolade for both Gardner and Martin as the duo helped lead the Red Raiders (12-7; 2-1) to a 3-1 record last week, including a series win at Baylor in the Big 12 opener for both teams.
Gardner led all Big 12 players last week with a .615 average (8-for-13) that included at least two hits in three of four games. The successful week pushed Gardner’s average to a Big 12-leading .467 clip for the season. He is also the conference leader with a .568 on-base percentage and ranks second with 28 hits and fourth with a .600 slugging percentage.
He closed the series going 3-for-5 on Sunday, marking the fourth time already this season Gardner has recorded three or more hits. Gardner leads the Red Raiders with nine multi-hit performances this season, four of which that have come in the past five games.Gardner started the week by reaching safely in all four plate appearances against UT Arlington on Tuesday night as he recorded a pair of singles and walked twice in Tech’s 6-4 victory. Gardner followed up by going 2-for-3 with two RBI in the series opener against Baylor as he provided Tech its first run with a RBI single into left field in the fourth inning before adding another RBI single in the eighth.
Martin, meanwhile, became the first Red Raider freshman in school history to earn the win in a Big 12 opener last Friday as he tossed six shutout innings in a 5-0 victory over Martin. Martin, just the first Tech freshman to start a Big 12 opener since current Miami Marlin closer AJ Ramos in 2006, allowed just two hits and struck out four en route to leading the Red Raiders to their second shutout ever in a Big 12 opener.
The shutout was also the first for Tech against Baylor since the Red Raiders claimed a 1-0 victory on March 5, 1993, in Lubbock. Tech had not previously shut out Baylor in Waco since recording a 4-0 victory on April 21, 1989.
Martin retired Baylor in order over four of the first five innings to improve to 2-0 this season. He closed the week ranked third in the Big 12 with a .188 opponent batting average and eighth with a 2.18 ERA.
The Red Raiders return to Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park on Tuesday afternoon when Tech hosts New Mexico in a 2 p.m. first pitch.
(Press Release Provided by Texas Tech Athletics Department)
