LUBBOCK, Texas – Milwaukee spoiled a strong first career start from Texas Tech freshman Ty Harpenau Saturday afternoon as the Panthers claimed a 10-3 victory in the first game of a doubleheader at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
The Panthers (1-1) scored nine runs over the final four frames to even the series with the Red Raiders (1-1), who raced out to an early three-run lead before being held to just four hits over the final six frames.
Harpenau earned a no-decision despite a valiant effort in his first collegiate appearance as the right-hander allowed just one run off three hits and seven strikeouts over five complete innings. His seven strikeouts marked the most by a Red Raider freshman since teammate Ryan Moseley also fanned seven on May 2, 2014, at Kansas.
Tech led 3-1 when Milwaukee began its rally with a run in the sixth and then a three-run homer by Daulton Varsho in the seventh. The Panthers added another run in the eighth before pushing four across in the ninth.
Steven Gingery (0-1) suffered the loss for the Red Raiders in his first career appearance. The southpaw allowed three runs off four hits and a pair of strikeouts over 1.2 innings before giving way to Garrett Bruce with two outs in the seventh.
For the second-straight day, Eric Gutierrez began Tech’s scoring with a RBI single to centerfield in the opening inning as he scored Cory Raley, who began the frame by reaching on an error. Tyler Neslony added a RBI fielder’s choice soon after to give Tech an early 2-0 lead.
The Red Raiders were limited to just one run over the final eight innings which came on a Ryan Long RBI single in the third. Long led the Red Raiders at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 overall in the eighth multi-hit game of his career.
Jake Tuttle (1-0) earned the win in relief for Milwaukee as the right-hander tossed a shutout sixth inning before Jake Sommers came on to start the seventh. Sommers earned the save after three scoreless innings where he allowed just three hits and struck out three.
Courtesy: Texas Tech Sports Information Department
