Texas Tech Athletics
Abilene Christian
No. 18 Texas Tech Defeats ACU, 10-2
April 21, 2015 | Baseball
Smith hit his team-leading eighth home run of the season Tuesday night.
April 21, 2015
MIDLAND, Texas - No. 18 Texas Tech broke a 2-2 tie with an eight-run seventh inning on its way to a 10-2 victory over Abilene Christian Tuesday night on a neutral field in Midland, Texas at Security Bank Ballpark in front of 3,512 fans.
Tech (26-15) sweeps its season series over the Wildcats while also claiming wins in Lubbock and Abilene. Tech was led by eight different players that recorded a base hit in the game while its bullpen - three Red Raiders - logged 2.1 scoreless innings without allowing a base hit or walk.
ACU (9-29) was plagued by all three of its errors coming during Tech's eight-run frame while finish the game with four base hits.
After scoring the first run of the game in the second on a passed ball and taking a 2-0 lead in the fifth on sophomore outfielder Stephen Smith's team-leading eighth home run of the season, the Red Raiders allowed two unearned runs to the Wildcats - with one in the sixth and one in the seventh - as the score was tied, 2-2, after the top half of the seventh.
Tech starting pitcher Ty Damron left the game with the score tied while taking a no decision despite matching career highs innings pitched (6.2) and strikeouts (6).
Junior right-handed pitcher Matt Custred (1-1) earned his first win of the season getting a strikeout to end the ACU seventh with a runner in scoring position. It was the only batter he would face in the game.
The Red Raiders plated eight runs in the seventh to win the contest while connecting on four straight singles and also receiving two walks and a double in the inning. Freshman designated hitter Tanner Gardner drove in two of the Red Raiders eight runs with a two-run double down the right field line for the one extra-base hit of the inning.
Custred was one of three Tech relievers who didn't allow a base hit, walk or run while freshmen lefties Jacob Patterson and Parker Mushinski pitched the eighth and ninth innings, resepectively.
Smith went 2-for-5, junior outfielder Tyler Neslony went 2-for-3 with his 12th double of the season and junior shortstop Cory Raley went 2-for-5 with a run scored while doubling off the left-field wall in the second inning.
Tech will host No. 9 Oklahoma State this weekend, April 24-26, at Rip Griffin Park for a Big 12 Conference series with the series opener and series finale set for a national television audience on FOX College Sports.
TEAM NOTES:
- Texas Tech has won seven of its last eight and 10 of its last 15 overall.
- Texas Tech completed its five-game road swing with a 4-1 record.
- Texas Tech improved to 7-5 in midweek games this season.
TECH vs. ACU SERIES NOTES:
- Texas Tech leads Abilene Christian 32-16 in the all-time series - tonight marked the first-ever neutral site matchup between these two programs ... Tech has won 10 straight over ACU since 1976 and 18 of its last 19 dating back to 1968.
TECH MISCELLANEOUS NOTES:
- Texas Tech scored eight runs in the seventh inning - its most runs scored in an inning this season.
- Texas Tech pitchers held ACU to a .100 (1-for-10) batting average with two outs.
- Texas Tech improved to 19-2 when scoring six or more runs.
- Texas Tech improved to 23-1 when leading after the sixth inning.
- Texas Tech has homered in 10 consecutive games (12 HR) for the first time since 2002.
- Texas Tech has hit 32 home runs in 41 games ... Tech hit 30 home runs all of last season in 66 games.
- Texas Tech has allowed four runs during its last three games (27 innings).
- Texas Tech held its opponent to two runs or fewer for the 11th time - is 11-0 in these games.
- Texas Tech scored 10 runs for the fourth time this season - is 4-0 when scoring at least 10 runs.
TECH PLAYER NOTES:
- Stephen Smith hit his ninth career home run ... has hit six home runs during the last 12 games.
- Stephen Smith recorded his 11th multi-hit game of the season (24th career).
- Tyler Neslony has reached base safely in 22 consecutive games.
- Tyler Neslony went 2-for-3 recording his team-leading 14th multi-hit game of the season (36th career) ... hit his 12th double of the season which is tied for the team lead (Gutierrez).
- Eric Gutierrez has a 15-game hit streak ... batting .392 (20-for-51) during streak with 11 runs, three doubles, 12 RBI, 14 walks.
- Eric Gutierrez has started in 163 straight games - spanning his entire three-year Tech career.
- Eric Gutierrez has reached base safely in 18 consecutive games.
- Orlando Garcia has a nine-game hit streak.
- Orlando Garcia during April - .366 (15-for-41) with three doubles, one triple, home run, nine RBI.
- Hunter Hargrove made his first career start behind the plate ... has made 16 total starts this season with 14 in the outfield and one at designated hitter.
- Cory Raley posted his 12th multi-hit game.
- Cory Raley has reached base safely in 12 consecutive games.
- Matt Custred won his second career game.
- Matt Custred notched his ninth scoreless outing of the season.
- Ty Damron made his first appearance on the season away from home.
- Ty Darmon made his first career start on the road/neutral site.
- Ty Damron matched career-highs in innings (6.2) and strikeouts (6).
- Parker Mushinski made his sixth scoreless outing of the season.
- Jacob Patterson notched his fifth scoreless appearance of the season.
