Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Northern Illinois
No. 5 Texas Tech Shuts Out NIU in Doubleheader Sweep
February 20, 2015 | Baseball
Feb. 20, 2015
LUBBOCK, Texas - No. 5 Texas Tech posted back-to-back shutouts, 8-0 and 5-0, in a doubleheader sweep over Northern Illinois on Friday afternoon in front of 3,572 fans at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park. Tech's series against NIU marks the sixth-annual Brooks Wallace Memorial Series.
Texas Tech (6-1) recorded its first doubleheader sweep while shutting out its opponent in both games since 1997 (vs. Iowa State). NIU (3-2) dropped its first two games of the season.
Tech sophomore right-handed pitcher Ryan Moseley (1-0) earned his first win of the season pitching six shutout innings in the opener while allowing just four hits with three strikeouts and three walks.
NIU starting Ben Neumann (0-1) took the loss allowing four runs on 10 hits in 4.2 innings with a strikeout and two walks.
Freshman third baseman Orlando Garcia had a breakout performance going 4-for-4 with two runs, two doubles and two RBI during his first career start. He drove in Tech's first two runs with an RBI double in the second and an RBI single in the fourth inning.
The Red Raiders posted five straight hits in the fourth while plating three runs to take a 4-0 lead. The Red Raiders added a run in the sixth and then junior first baseman Eric Gutierrez cleared the bases with a three-run double in the eighth to give Tech an 8-0 lead.
Gutierrez went 2-for-5 with three RBI and shortstop Tim Proudfoot added a three-hit performance going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. In addition, Garcia made several plays at the hot corner tallying eight assists in the game.
Senior right-handed pitcher Corey Taylor pitched two shutout innings and sophomore righty Sean Thompson made his season debut pitching a scoreless ninth inning during his first career appearance at Rip Griffin Park.
Tech broke the nightcap open early scoring four of its five runs in the bottom of the first inning as left fielder Tyler Neslony scored the game's first run with an RBI single through the right side and then junior infielder Cory Raley scored three on an RBI double down the left-field line to give Tech a 4-0 lead.
Neither team would score the following six innings as pitching and defense took over the game.
Senior left-handed pitcher Cameron Smith (1-0) made his first start of the season and pitched five shutout innings allowing five hits with three strikeouts without allowing a walk.
Senior right-handed pitcher Dominic Moreno tallied the final four innings of the contest pitching shutout baseball allowing only two hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.
Tech's final run of the game came off the bat of Neslony, who crushed a full-count offering over the right-center field wall for his first home run of the season and the fifth homer of his career.
Freshman designated hitter Tanner Gardner went 2-for-4, Neslony went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and Raley went 2-for-3 with three RBI.
Texas Tech and NIU will conclude their four-game non-conference series on Saturday with a noon doubleheader at Rip Griffin Park.
NOTES:
- Texas Tech leads NIU 18-2 in the all-time series with a 16-2 advantage in games played in Lubbock ... Tech has won 12 straight games against NIU dating back to 2007.
- The Red Raiders are 43-6 in home non-conference games under third-year head coach Tim Tadlock.
- The Tech pitching staff has 21 consecutive scoreless innings pitched dating back to Tuesday's Nevada game.
- Orlando Garcia went 4-for-4 during his first career start.
- Orlando Garcia is the first Red Raider to have four hits in his first career start since 2004 (Jose Delgado, 4-for-5, vs. Campbell) ... he is the only Red Raider freshman to accomplish the feat in over the last 14 years.
- Tech has hit seven home runs in seven games ... last season Tech hit seven home runs in its 17th game.
- The Red Raiders had six players that hit a home run last season (66 games) ... In seven games this season the Red Raiders have six players that have hit a home run.
- Sophomore catcher Hunter Southerland made his career debut starting behind the plate in game two.
- A total of 14 Red Raiders have made their career debuts this season, including seven freshmen.
- Eric Gutierrez has started in 129 straight games - spanning his entire three-year Tech career.
- Eric Gutierrez has reached base safely in 23-of-33 plate appearances this season.
- Tyler Neslony hit his first home run of the season and the fifth of his career.
- Tyler Neslony has hit safely in all seven games this season ... has three multi-hit games.
- Cameron Smith improved to 9-3 career at Texas Tech ... he is now 26-7 during his collegiate career (New Mexico JC and Texas Tech) in 52 appearances.
- Tim Proudfoot went 3-for-4 in the series opener ... marked his sixth career game with at least three base hits.
