Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
San Francisco
No. 5 Texas Tech Sweeps Series Over San Francisco
February 15, 2015 | Baseball
Gutierrez went 4-for-4 on Sunday and finished the opening weekend batting .750 (9-for-12) and reaching base safely in 16-of-19 plate appearances.
LUBBOCK, Texas - No. 5 Texas Tech secured its first series sweep of the season with a 9-7 victory over San Francisco on Sunday afternoon in the series finale in front of 3,192 fans at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
The Red Raiders (4-0) erased a 3-2 lead by the Dons scoring four runs in the fifth and holding onto their lead late as San Francisco also scored four runs in the ninth inning.
Tech recorded 46 runs on opening weekend while 11 pitchers saw action.
Sophomore left-handed pitcher Ty Damron (1-0) picked up the win pitching a career-high five innings with two strikeouts without allowing a walk with three runs and seven hits allowed.
Senior left-handed pitcher Cameron Smith notched the save pitching the final four innings out of the bullpen while allowing four runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and a walk.
Junior first baseman Eric Gutierrez went 4-for-4 with three RBI while Stephen Smith (2-for-4, 2 RBI), shortstop Tim Proudfoot (2-for-4) and pinch hitter/designated hitter Quinn Carpenter (2-for-2) each added two hits.
Tech's four-run fifth inning started with back-to-back singles through the left side by left fielder Tyler Neslony and Gutierrez. Following consecutive fly outs, Carpenter was hit-by-pitch in a pinch-hit at-bat and then freshman third baseman Michael Davis scored Neslony with an RBI single and catcher Tyler Floyd plated Gutierrez with an infield hit. Stephen Smith completed the inning with a two-run single down the left-field line to score Davis and Floyd.
Tech added three runs in the seventh when Gutierrez singled to right center scoring Stephen Smith and second baseman Cory Raley. Gutierrez later scored on junior Zach Davis' sacrifice fly to left field.
Damron worked out of a jam in the second inning leaving runners at the corners and Cameron Smith left two runners on base in the seventh and also ninth inning. Overall, the Dons left 10 base runners on base.
Texas Tech will play its first midweek game of the season on Tuesday, Feb. 17 hosting Nevada (3-0) for a 2 p.m. first pitch at Rip Griffin Park. Nevada swept a three-game series on the road at Abilene Christian this weekend.
NOTES:
- Tech has swept five consecutive series dating back to last season.
- Tech has won 20 consecutive home games - marks the longest active home win streak in the country.
- Texas Tech has posted at least 10 hits in four straight games to open the season for the first time since 2009 (5).
- The Red Raiders hit .392 (56-for-143) on the weekend with 46 runs, 16 doubles, one triple, four home runs, 26 walks and only 17 strikeouts.
- A total of 12 Red Raiders made their career debuts this weekend, including seven freshmen.
- Gutierrez recorded a career-high four hits.
- Gutierrez has now started in 126 consecutive games - spanning his entire three-year Tech career.
- Gutierrez reached base safely in 16-of-19 plate appearances on the weekend.
- C. Smith recorded his second career save while marking the sixth time in his career to pitch at least four relief innings.
