Texas Tech Pitchers Combine for Shutout to Earn Berth to College World Series [PICS & VIDEO]
2014 will be a season to remember for Texas Tech Red Raider Baseball as the Red Raiders shutout College of Charleston 1-0 on Sunday to advance to the College World Series. It's the first CWS appearance for Texas Tech Baseball as they continue their most successful season in school history.
Texas Tech's lone run came in the top of the fourth as Ryan Kirsch's double plated Tyler Nelsony.
Dylan Dusek pitched five innings to earn the win for Tech. Cameron Smith, Dominic Moreno and Jonny Drozd all pitched in relief to keep the shutout in tact for Tech.
Strong defense also helped the Red Raiders, especially in the late innings. CF Devon Conley made a spectacular catch (pictured, above) in right center field at the end of the seventh inning that left the Cougars deflated. Cougars SS Champ Rowland hit a screaming liner that appeared to split Conley and RF Stephen Smith. Conley covered at least 30, 40 yards of field as he dashed into right center to make the sprawled out diving catch.
Other great defensive plays for the Red Raiders included two by 1B Eric Gutierrez. In the bottom of the eighth, Gutierrez dove deep into the 2B hole to snag a grounder and he got it to Jonny Drozd in time to get the out at first. Then in the ninth, Gutierrez snagged a grounder down the line to get the first out of the inning.
Texas Tech will play the winner of TCU & Pepperdine in the First Round of the College World Series Sunday, June 15 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha.