The No. 6 Texas Tech baseball team’s eight-game home winning streak was snapped on Saturday afternoon in heartbreaking fashion, falling to UTSA, 3-2, at Rip Griffin Park.
The Roadrunners (8-6) scored three runs in the top of the ninth on a bases-clearing double to center field to take game two of the weekend series. It is the first time this season Tech has lost when leading after eight innings and only the fifth time under head coach Tim Tadlock. The game-winning hit came with two outs and bases loaded.
Sophomore lefty Steven Gingery was masterful yet again, tossing 8.2 innings, a career-high, giving up six hits but striking out eight for the second time this season. After the Roadrunners opened the ninth with an infield single, Gingery induced a 6-4-3 double play and looked to be on his way to a complete game shutout. However, a walk and another infield single put runners on the corners and put an end to the Huntington Beach, California, native’s day. Two of the three runs were charged to Gingery, raising his ERA to just 1.47 on the season.
A walk to CJ Pickering from junior left-hander Parker Mushinski, who entered in relief for Gingery, loaded the bases for Mason George, who doubled off of freshman RHP John McMillon for the go-ahead markers.
It was a low-scoring affair, as Tech put down runs in the second and seventh frames, as junior outfielder Tanner Gardner kicked off the second with a double to right-center field. After a lineout advanced him to third, an error by the shortstop in the next at-bat from junior outfielder Connor Beck allowed Gardner to cross the plate for the early 1-0 lead.
Tech’s seventh inning run was also the result of an error, as senior infielder Hunter Hargrove reached first on an error by the first baseman to begin the frame. It was fulfilled by a Gardner double down the right field line to make it 2-0.
Gardner recorded the only two hits for the Red Raiders on Saturday, his fifth-straight multi-hit game of the year, extending his hitting streak to eight games. He now has 19 hits, improving his season batting average to .297. Unfortunately, it marked the end of Hargrove’s hitting streak, which stood at 15 games this season and 18 dating back to the 2016 campaign. However, Hargrove has reached base in every game in 2017.
The Red Raiders return to action for the series finale on Sunday, March 12, with first pitch set for 1 p.m. at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
(Courtesy Texas Tech Sports Information Department)