Texas Tech baseball put together a six-run sixth inning to overtake Kentucky, 7-4, on Friday in the series opener at Rip Griffin Park.

The Red Raiders (3-1) have now won three straight since dropping their season opener. The Wildcats (3-1), meanwhile, suffered their first loss of the season.

It marked the third-straight game Tech rallied after finding itself on the wrong side of the scoreboard through five innings. Down 4-1 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, Tech cut it to 4-3, before a three-run double from senior first baseman Cameron Warren put the Red Raiders in front.

Warren finished 1-for-4 and led the team with three RBI, while junior second baseman Brian Klein and sophomore catcher Braxton Fulford each posted multi-hit efforts. Sophomore Gabe Holt, despite having his 20-game hitting streak come to an end, earned a pair of walks on the day, including a key ten-pitch walk to lead off the sixth.

Junior starting pitcher Erickson Lanning lasted through five innings, which is his longest start since May of 2017.  Lanning’s outing was efficient with no earned runs, one walk and four strikeouts. Junior Taylor Floyd closed out the game for Tech by striking out three of the six batters that he faced. Junior Dane Haveman also put together 1.1 quality frames, retiring all four batters he faced.

Kentucky starter Zack Thompson pitched 5.2 innings struck out eight batters while allowing four earned runs.  Wildcat left fielder Ryan Shinn lead the Wildcats at the plate with three hits in three at bats.  

After Kentucky got on the board with two runs in the second, Tech answered put its first run across with a two-out rally in the third. Fulford got it started with a single, Holt drew a walk and freshman shortstop Dru Baker then delivered with a single to center field that made it 2-1.

Facing a 4-1 hole in the sixth, Holt got the Red Raiders going with another lead off walk, followed by a two-out single from Klein that put runners on the corners. Junior designated hitter Doug Facendo cut the lead in half at 4-2 with a base hit that would cause Kentucky to lift Thompson from the mound in favor of reliever Carson Coleman (2-1).

Sophomore left fielder Dylan Neuse greeted Coleman with an RBI double down off the bag at third base, then a Tanner O’Tremba walk loaded the bases for Warren, who ripped a double to the corner in left to clear the bases. Fulford followed with an RBI single to make it 7-4. 

The Red Raiders will face the Wildcats on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.   Caleb Killian (0-1) will start for Tech and will face Jimmy Ramsey (1-0) for Kentucky.

 (Courtesy: Texas Tech Sports Communications Department)