Texas Tech Upends New Mexico 6-1

Duke von Schamann pitched 6.1 shutout innings and Stephen Hagen hit the first grand slam for Texas Tech since 2009 as the Red Raiders moved their midweek win streak to eight games with a 6-1 victory over New Mexico Tuesday evening at Dan Law Field.

Texas Tech (25-18) also claimed its third win in a row over New Mexico (12-29) this season, as the Red Raiders swept the Lobos in a midweek series in Albuquerque two weeks ago. The Red Raiders’ eight-game midweek win streak is the longest for Texas Tech since 1999.

von Schamann (3-0) pitched a career-high 6.1 innings while allowing only two base hits with three strikeouts and allowed only one base runner into scoring position. He retired nine of the first 10 Lobo batters and never faced more than four New Mexico batters in an inning.

New Mexico starter Austin House (0-2) took the loss pitching 4.1 innings allowing five runs (4 ER) on four hits with one strikeout and issuing five walks.

The Red Raiders got out of the gates quickly with a run in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead on a passed ball. The game stayed close (1-0) until the fifth inning when Tech exploded for five runs.

Tech’s five-run fifth started when Jamodrick McGruder and David Paiz reached base on a hit-by-pitch and walk, respectively, before Barrett Barnes doubled off the center-field wall to score Tech’s first run of the inning. Right fielder Andre Wheeler then walked to load the bases for Stephen Hagen.

On the first pitch, Hagen hit his fifth homer of the season over the right field wall, also giving the junior his first career grand slam as a Red Raider. In fact, it was the first grand slam for a Tech player since Garrett Totten at Baylor on March 22, 2009.

It marked Tech’s most runs in an inning since the second game of its series with the Lobos two weeks ago when Tech plated six runs in the sixth inning on April 13.

von Schamann and the Tech bullpen cruised the rest of the way allowing only three hits the final four innings. Robbie Kilcrease pitched two innings allowing one run and two hits with one strikeout and a walk while John Neely got the final two outs on three pitches in the ninth.

Barnes went 2-for-4 with a run scored, stolen base and RBI while Hagen finished the game going 2-for-4 with a run and four RBI. McGruder reached base in his first four plate appearances with two walks and two hit-by-pitch and he also stole two bases and now has 25 this season.

Texas Tech and New Mexico will complete its two-game midweek series on Wednesday, April 27, with first pitch set for 3 p.m. at Dan Law Field.