Texas Tech Baseball Uses Late Innings Comeback to Beat New Mexico Lobos
TEXAS TECH 4R 7H 3E
NEW MEXICO 3R 5H 2E- F
Saturday evening, the last two undefeated teams in the, double-elimination, NCAA Lubbock Regional faced off at Rip Griffin Park. Texas Tech was the visiting team in the match-up against the New Mexico Lobos.
Both teams' bullpens ended up factoring in the win. Texas Tech's relievers held the Lobos to one run over six innings of work. While New Mexico's ended up surrendering the tying and winning runs in the final two innings.
Steven Smith took advantage of the Lobos shaky bullpen as he launched a solo homer in the top of the ninth inning to give Texas Tech a 4-3 lead. Howard Hayden worked a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save for Texas Tech en route to the 4-3 win.
The scoring started as the Red Raiders got out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning after a Tanner Gardner RBI single. However, the lead was short-lived when the Lobos scored two runs in the bottom of the third through a two-run home run by Jared Mang. A third Lobo run was added in the fourth when Luis Gonzales scored on a wild pitch.
The fifth, sixth and seventh innings were scoreless for both teams, before Texas Tech tied the game in the eighth inning. The Red Raiders were able to load the bases with two outs. Ryan Long came up to bat as a pinch hitter and he hit a single to center which scored Cory Raley and Eric Gutierrez.
Texas Tech's starting pitcher Steven Gingery was pulled in the fourth inning after allowing three hits, four walks and a hit by a pitch in three-plus innings of work. Texas Tech head coach Tim Tadlock was forced to use four relievers in the eventual win.
New Mexico plays an elimination game Sunday afternoon at 2pm against Dallas Baptist. The winner will then immediately turn around and play Texas Tech at 6pm in the Regional Championship Game. If Texas Tech loses, then the two teams would play again Monday afternoon at 2pm.