No. 4 Tech Takes Series With 2-1 Win Over No. 21 UT

Saturday, March 18

Austin, TX

4 p.m.

Texas Tech Athletics

16-4, 2-0

Texas

13-8, 0-2

Texas Tech

Texas

No. 4 Tech Takes Series With 2-1 Win Over No. 21 UT

March 18, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes (PDF)

The Red Raiders post eight-straight scoreless innings in game two win

AUSTIN, Texas – The No. 4 Texas Tech baseball team worked through several high-pressure spots to take game two against No. 21 Texas, 2-1, on Saturday afternoon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

The Red Raiders (16-4, 2-0) scored two runs in the third and posted eight-straight scoreless frames defensively to take the first Big 12 series of the year. It marks back-to-back years the Red Raiders have won their opening conference series, taking two of three from Baylor in 2016. It's the first year since 2005 Tech has begun Big 12 play with a 2-0 record.

For the second consecutive night, freshman catcher Michael Berglund tallied the game-winning RBI, this time roping a single to right field to give the Red Raiders a 2-1 lead. Four of his seven RBI this season have been the game winner.

With the victory, Tech clinched the road series against the Longhorns for the third-straight year, the first time in program history to accomplish the feat. The Red Raiders are now 5-1 this season against nationally-ranked opponents.

Sophomore lefty Steven Gingery picked up his fourth win of the year, improving to 4-0 after tossing 6.0 innings, giving up just one run and two hits, striking out five. Gingery carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning, before surrendering a single with two away, retiring nine-straight before that moment. It's the fourth time this season Gingery has allowed only one run in an outing.

The Longhorns struck first in the opening frame after a pair of walks put two on with one out. A comebacker to Gingery gave the Red Raiders a chance at a double play, but his throw to second traveled just out of reach of Garcia and into center field. Jones, who was on second before the play, was already scooting to third and was able to score on the error, giving Texas an early 1-0 lead.

In the top of the third, the Red Raiders put down three hits and two runs to push ahead of the Longhorns. The frame began with a leadoff walk to junior infielder Michael Davis, who was moved over to second by a groundout by senior outfielder Ryan Long to first base. Then the hits started to fall. Freshman infielder Josh Jung lifted a single into right field, scoring Davis from second to knot the game up at one.

Junior outfielder Tanner Gardner followed suit with a sharply-hit single to right, placing runners on first & second with one away. Berglund, who recorded the game-winning RBI double on Friday night against the Longhorns, did it again to give Tech a 2-1 lead, this time with another single to right field, plating Jung.

UT threated in the bottom of the fifth, breaking up the no-hitter with a two-out single from Hamilton. A balk moved him over to second, then a single hit to Davis at second appeared to give Texas an opportunity with runners on the corners. However, Hamilton continued to round third, and as Davis watched it unfold, he fired home to freshman catcher Clay Koelzer, who ran down Hamilton to pick up the third out of the inning.

Gingery's day was over after six innings, giving way to junior lefty Jacob Patterson. Texas picked up a leadoff single through the left side of the infield, then put runners on second & third after a grounder to Patterson on the line was under-handed over first base. Calm and cool remained Patterson though, who proceeded to strike out the next three Longhorns to neutralize the threat.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Longhorns led off the frame with a bloop single to right, but Patterson quickly responded with two outs via strikeout & fly out. A four-pitch walk and another ball to start the next at-bat signaled the end of Patterson's day, as Tech brought in junior right-hander Jose Quezada to close out the frame. After adding a ball and a strike to the count, Quezada induced a grounder to Jung at third, who quickly stepped on the base to end the inning.

Quezada picked up his second save of the year after a quick and painless bottom of the ninth to seal the 2-1 victory.

The Red Raiders wrap up the first conference series of the year on Sunday, March 19, at 1 p.m. from UFCU Disch-Falk Field on the Longhorn Network.

Three-straight road series wins against Texas.
First time in program history.#WreckEm pic.twitter.com/eE4LFKv9xW
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) March 19, 2017