LUBBOCK, Texas – The No. 13 Texas Tech baseball team suffered its first home loss since Opening Day, falling to Stetson, 7-5, in 10 innings on Sunday at Rip Griffin Park.
After racking up a combined 33 hits in their three-game sweep of No. 22 Michigan the three days prior, the Red Raiders (15-6, 1-2) managed just five hits through the first eight innings before a two-run double from junior Doug Facendo with two outs in the ninth sent the game to extras.
The Hatters (9-13) got an RBI single with one out in the 10th to retake the lead, then added a run on a passed ball for the 7-5 advantage.
Stetson got a terrific start from freshman left-hander Daniel Paret, who kept the Red Raiders off balance through the first seven innings of the game as he allowed only two runs on three hits with four strikeouts. Sophomore reliever Chris Gonzalez (3-0) received credit for the win in 1.2 innings of relief.
Sophomore outfielder Dylan Neuse led the Red Raiders offensively, going 2-for-4 with a walk and a steal. Despite its poor hitting performance, Tech was able to draw nine base-on-balls in the contest and two hit-by-pitches, including three free passes in the ninth to setup Facendo’s game-tying double.
Stetson jumped out to an early lead with three hits and two walks in the first to go up 3-0. Tech responded in the bottom of the first with back-to-back doubles from freshman shortstop Dru Baker and sophomore third baseman Josh Jung to make it 3-1.
A sacrifice fly from junior Brian Klein scored sophomore outfielder Gabe Holt from third to make it 3-2 in the third. Holt, who went 1-for-4, drew one of two walks on the day before swiping second and then stealing third to get in position for Klein’s sac fly.
The Hatters answered back with a run in the fourth and held the two-run lead until the eighth when a solo home run made it 5-2.
A single from senior Cameron Warren drove in a run in the eighth to cut the deficit to 5-3. Tech had the bases loaded after freshman Cole Stilwell drew a walk, but a strikeout would end the threat.
In the ninth, Baker and Jung received free passes before Klein drew a one-out walk to load the bases. With the Red Raiders down to their last out, Facendo came through with a two-run double down the left field line that tied it at 5-5.
For Facendo, the double was his third of the year and first since Feb. 23 against Kentucky. It came on his seventh at bat of the month and gave him six RBI on the year.
Redshirt freshman Clayton Beeter, who entered with a 0.00 ERA and 13 strikeouts to one hit, received the loss with two runs in 0.2 innings in the 10th. Starter Mason Montgomery tossed three innings, while junior Taylor Floyd set career highs with seven strikeouts in three innings.
The Red Raiders will close their five-game home stand on Monday with its second game against Stetson, set for noon. The game can be seen on Texas Tech TV or heard through the Texas Tech Sports Network.
Courtesy of Texas Tech Athletics Communications Department
