LUBBOCK, Texas – Ty Damron and Davis Martin combined to hold Milwaukee to just two hits Saturday afternoon as No. 25 Texas Tech rebounded for a 9-1 victory to wrap a doubleheader at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
Damron (1-0) was dominant, limiting Milwaukee (1-2) to just an unearned run in the fourth inning as the left-hander surrendered just one hit over five complete innings. He forced 10 ground ball outs and struck out four in the win.
Damron was relieved to start the sixth inning by Martin, who earned the save in his first collegiate appearance. The freshman allowed just two Panthers to reach base over the final four frames as he retired Milwaukee in order over the sixth, seventh and ninth innings.
The performance marked the first combined two-hitter for Tech (2-1) since the Red Raiders defeated Prairie View A&M, 13-0, in seven innings on April 19, 2014. Damron also contributed to that two-hitter as he threw two innings in relief of starter Chris Sadberry.
Damron benefited from an early lead as the Red Raiders scored seven runs over the first three innings, beginning with a two-out RBI double from Eric Gutierrez in the opening frame. Gutierrez has now driven in Tech’s first run in all three games of the series.
Gutierrez was one of three Red Raiders to finish 2-for-3 at the plate, joining both Tyler Neslony and Tanner Gardner. It was the second multiple-hit performance already in the series for both Gutierrez and Gardner and the first for Neslony.
Gardner followed Gutierrez with a RBI double of his own in the first, giving Tech an early 2-0 lead. The Red Raiders doubled that lead an inning later off a two-run double from Cory Raley, marking the second time this weekend the senior has driven in two or more runs. Raley scored later in the inning off a RBI single from Stephen Smith.
Ryan Long continued Tech’s offensive success with a RBI double early in the third inning that ended Milwaukee starter Adam Reuss’ day. Reuss (0-1) suffered the loss for the Panthers after allowing six runs off five hits and five walks over two complete innings.
The Red Raiders added two more runs off sacrifice flies from Kholeton Sanchez in the third and eighth innings and then a Neslony solo home run to lead off the sixth. The home run was the 11th of Neslony’s career.
Milwaukee previously opened the day with a 10-3 victory in the first game of the doubleheader. First pitch for Sunday’s series finale has been moved to an 11:30 a.m. start to accommodate Milwaukee’s travel schedule.
Courtesy: Texas Tech Sports Information Department