LUBBOCK, Texas – Two runs in the top of the 11th inning helped Oklahoma State steal Sunday’s game, 3-1, and take the series from No. 4 Texas Tech on a sunny afternoon at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
The Cowboys (23-16, 6-9) got a pair of runs in the 11th thanks to hits from Garrett Benge (single) and Colin Simpson (double) to help push past the Red Raiders (33-10, 9-6). Benge’s two-out hit scored Ryan Cash, who reached earlier in the frame on a fielder’s choice, then advanced to second on a groundout & third on a wild pitch. Simpson followed by hitting an RBI double to right-center to drive in Benge for the 3-1 lead.
Junior right-hander Jose Quezada was charged with the loss, after entering in the ninth with two on & no out. A single from Benge to center field pushed the then-tying run across home plate. After the single, Quezada responded with a strikeout & induced a double play to end the frame.
Sophomore right-hander Ryan Shetter got the start for the Red Raiders on Sunday and had one of his best performances of the season, tossing 5.0 innings of scoreless baseball. The Friendswood native allowed only four hits & issued eight strikeouts without giving up a walk. Junior lefty Parker Mushinski followed with another stretch of 3.0 perfect frames, striking out three in the process.
The Red Raiders & Cowboys faced off in a pitcher’s duel for most of Sunday’s game, as OSU starter Blake Battenfield went 7.1 innings of one-run ball, allowing four hits and a walk.
After six & a half scoreless frames, Tech put the first run on the board thanks to a solo homer from Garcia. With two gone in the inning, Garcia hammered the first pitch he saw over the wall & near a passing car to give the Red Raiders a 1-0 lead.
It was the second-straight game he’s hit a home run, sending an opposite-field blast into the Tech bullpen in Saturday’s 8-2 win.
Garcia would be one of two Red Raiders to finish the day with a multi-hit game, as he was joined by freshman catcher Michael Berglund with two of his own. Tech ended the day with six hits from four batters.
The Red Raiders hit the road for Albuquerque for a two-game set against New Mexico on April 25-26 at Santa Ana Star Field.
