The No. 10 Texas Tech baseball team capped off the 2017 Shriners Hospitals for Children Classic with a dramatic walk-off victory over No. 2 LSU, 5-4, on Sunday afternoon at Minute Maid Park.

The Red Raiders (11-2) used the extra half of the ninth inning to secure the win, as junior outfielder Tanner Gardner sliced the two-out game-winner back at the LSU (9-3) pitcher, who tried to stop the ball with his foot, but it ricocheted out toward third base, allowing Tech to finish 2-1 this weekend in Houston.

A series of small-ball plays led Tech to its fifth and final run of the day, as sophomore outfielder Cody Farhat led off the bottom of the ninth with a hit-by-pitch on the first pitch of the frame. Senior Anthony Lyons checked in next to deliver a great sacrifice bunt a few feet in front of home plate to advance Farhat to second.

The Tigers decided to intentionally walk Michael Davis to put two on with one out, bringing up freshman infielder Josh Jung, who drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning to put Tech up, 4-3. A grounder from Jung moved both men over a bag, which was followed by another intentional walk to senior infielder Hunter Hargrove to load the bases, setting up the eventual winning hit from Gardner.

It was part of his second consecutive two-hit day for the Frisco native, who also had a double in the sixth inning. He now has three multi-hit performances this season.

Every inning LSU scored a run, the Red Raiders responded with a run of their own, as both team scored one in the second inning, followed by a two-run top of the seventh for the Tigers & three for Tech in the bottom, culminating with one for each in the ninth. Three of Tech’s five overall runs came with two outs in the inning.

Sophomore right-hander Ryan Shetter put together his third-straight quality start, going 5.0 innings against the Tigers. The Friendswood, Texas, native allowed just one run on three hits, while striking out three. It marked back-to-back outings Shetter has given up only one run.

Junior outfielder Connor Beck racked up a season-high three hits against the Tigers on Sunday afternoon, including a double and two singles. He was part of an 11-hit day for the Red Raiders, while also scoring a run.

The Tigers struck first in the top of the second, leading off the inning with an infield single by Greg Deichmann that chopped out of reach of Shetter but just light enough for a charging Davis to not get to in time. A grounder to shortstop moved Deichmann over, then a wild pitch on a strikeout advanced him to third and put runners on the corners with one out.

Freshman catcher Clay Koelzer and Shetter had already worked to catch one runner stealing in the first frame, and did it again in the second to put two outs on the board. However, a single from Jordan Romero to right field drove in the first run of the morning for the Tigers.

The lead would be short-lived though, as senior outfielder Ryan Long smashed the first pitch he saw into the right field seats to knot the game up at one. It was Long’s second homer of the year and 11th in 2017 for the Red Raiders. It was also the first of two runs scored by Long in Sunday’s matinee.

After four full scoreless frames, the Tigers broke the tie in the top of the seventh with a pair of two-out runs to go ahead, 3-1. Back-to-back singles from Michael Papierski and Brennan Breaux put runners on first & second, then a passed ball moved them both into scoring position. An intentional walk to Cole Freeman loaded the bases for Antoine Duplantis, who shot a single center field to score Papierski and Breaux.

The bottom of the seventh was the end for LSU starter Eric Walker, who pitched 6.0 innings, striking out seven while allowing one run on six hits. The Tiger’s first reliever, Todd Peterson, only made it 0.1 inning after surrendering three runs on two hits over four batters. The inning began with a walk to Long, followed by a single up the middle by Beck to put two on with no out. Freshman designated hitter Brian Klein lifted a single over the first baseman’s head near the right field line, scoring Long and moving Beck over to third. A wild pitch shortly after moved Klein over to second and plated Beck, signaling the end of the day for Peterson.

Tech would get another after Jung slotted a single through the left side of the infield to easily score Farhat, who pinch ran for Klein, after he advanced to third on the previous groundout.

The Tigers tied the game in the top of the ninth, as Rankin Woley pinch hit for Breaux and picked up a single to center field. Beau Jordan took over on the base path and advanced to third after a pair of groundouts. LSU pulled even after a wild pitch on the final segment of the walk to Kramer Robertson allowed Jordan to cross the plate. Freshman John McMillon took over for junior Parker Mushinski and delivered a strikeout on four pitches to end the frame.

Sunday’s win was the second walk-off victory of the season, as Tech defeated Cal on Feb. 25 in similar fashion in 11 innings.

The Red Raiders return to action on Tuesday, March 7, when they host 2016 NCAA runner-up Arizona at Rip Griffin Park at 6:30 p.m. on FOX Sports Southwest Plus.

COURTESY OF TEXAS TECH ATHLETICS