3 Things We Learned After The Texas Tech vs Oregon Series
Texas Tech Baseball vs Oregon
It's impossible to draw broad, lasting conclusions about a team after just one series, but that is exactly what I'm going to do right now.
First thing: There is no quit in this team.
If the weather had been warmer this weekend, you couldn't have convinced me that those games on Saturday and Sunday weren't must win Super Regional games for a ticket to Omaha. After losing convincingly on Friday night the Red Raiders got down 8-0 in the first inning on Saturday afternoon. four and a half hours later they had won 12-11. On Sunday they were down 3-0 before fighting to a 6-4 lead and win.
It wasn't just Gabe Holt and Josh Jung either, newcomers will play a large role in 2019.
Second thing: Newcomers will play a vital role in the season.
It has got to be fact by now that Tim Tadlock and company know how to recruit. This season is no different. Tanner O'Tremba had a huge home run in a comeback effort. Dylan Neuse had a big opening weekend at the plate. Taylor Floyd threw 2.2 innings of scoreless baseball.
Other newcomers weren't stellar in their debuts but will need to be impact pieces if this team is going to reach lofty expectations.
Third thing: The bullpen is salty.
It wasn't a perfect weekend for everybody out of the pen, but the flashes were bright. Clayton Beeter made his redshirt freshman debut in a major way coming in and pumping in 97 mph fastballs. Seven members of the Texas Tech bullpen pitched over the weekend and didn't allow a single run. 12 total members of the bullpen ran out in the three games, and there was plenty of reason to be excited.
Plus, John McMillon still throws gas.