#22 Texas Tech swept their Saturday doubleheader against Kansas State.

Texas Tech (19-8, 7-1 Big 12) started the day with a 10-3 win over Kansas State (12-16, 0-5 Big 12) in game one, and then followed that performance with a 10-4 win over K-State in game two.

In game one of the doubleheader, Texas Tech exploded for the seven runs in the second inning to claim a 7-0 lead and never looked back.

In game two, the Raiders posted at least one run in seven of eight different trips to the plate, the greatest of which was a three run seventh inning to put the Wildcats away for good.

With an Oklahoma State loss last night to West Virginia, Texas Tech now controls first place in the Big 12 baseball standings.

The Red Raiders will go for the series sweep on Sunday when they face K-State in the series finale at 12 p.m. at Rip Griffin Park at Dan Law Field.

(Full Release Provided by Texas Tech Athletics Below)

Orlando Garcia connected on a pair of home runs Saturday afternoon while Eric Gutierrez crushed one of his own to lead No. 22 Texas Tech to a doubleheader sweep of Kansas State following a 10-4 victory at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
 
Garcia connected on a solo blast in the fifth inning and then a two-run shot in the eighth to help the Red Raiders (19-8; 7-1) improve to 7-1 in Big 12 play, matching the best start in school history. Tech previously opened the 1999 conference slate with a similar 7-1 record.
 
The victory clinched the series for the Red Raiders as Tech previously defeated K-State (12-16; 0-5), 10-3, earlier in the day. It marks just the third time in program history where Tech has won each of its first three Big 12 series in a season (1997, 1999).
 
Garcia, who also lined a triple to the gap in left center in the third inning, finished 3-for-5 overall with three RBI and three runs scores, marking his sixth multi-hit game this season, four of which that have come against Big 12 pitching.
 
It was the first career multi-home run game for Garcia, who set new career highs for runs scored and total bases (11) and also matched his career mark for RBI. He is the third Red Raider to hit two home runs in a game this season, joining Tyler Neslony and Cory Raley.
 
Gutierrez, meanwhile, put together a similar performance at the plate as he was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and four RBI. Gutierrez finished a triple shy of the cycle as he setup Tech’s first run of the day with a double in the second inning before drilling a single in the sixth and a three-run homer in the seventh.
 
Gutierrez’ home run marked his fourth of the season and the 27th of his career. He now has 10 multi-hit games this season as well as a team-leading nine multi-RBI performances. 
 
Gutierrez combined for four hits over the doubleheader, giving him 220 now for his career which passes Joey Kenworth (2007-10) for seventh all-time in program history. His double also marked the 51st of his career, moving the senior into a tie for fifth in the Tech record book alongside Barrett Barnes (2010-12).
 
K-State opened with an early lead following a Jake Scudder RBI single in the opening inning. The Red Raiders responded with two runs in the second, however, off a Matt Bernstein RBI single and a Parker Rigler wild pitch to take a 2-1 lead.
 
Steven Gingery (3-1) failed to allow another run after the first inning to pick up the win, his second in Big 12 play. The left-hander scattered four hits while striking out three over six complete innings before Hayden Howard came on in relief to earn his second save this season.
 
Rigler (2-5) suffered the loss for the Wildcats after giving up four runs off four hits and seven strikeouts. He was relieved with two outs in the fifth inning by Brogan Heinen, one of three K-State relievers.
 
The Red Raiders will look for the series sweep Sunday afternoon when Tech and K-State meet in a 12 p.m. first pitch.