Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
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Milwaukee
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Red Raiders Rout Milwaukee, 12-3, on Opening Day
February 19, 2016 | Baseball
Feb. 19, 2016
The victory improved the Red Raiders to 43-24 all-time on Opening Day, which includes a 16-2 mark since the start of the 1999 season. Tech is also 29-2 now in home openers dating back to 1985.
Stephen Smith led the way for the Red Raiders, finishing 4-for-5 at the plate with three RBI. The performance marked the most hits for a Red Raider on Opening Day since John Capps totaled four as well against Louisiana-Monroe in 2006.
Three of Smith's four hits came off doubles as he provided Tech's first hit of the season in the opening inning with a double down the left-field line. He scored moments later off a RBI single from Eric Gutierrez.
Smith contributed to both of Tech's four-run innings with a RBI double in the fourth and a two-run double in the seventh. It marked the first time a Red Raider has recorded three doubles on Opening Day dating back to the start of the 1987 season.
Gutierrez (2-for-3) and Cory Raley (3-for-5), meanwhile, also added three RBI each to boast a top of a Red Raider lineup that accounted for 11 of Tech's 12 RBI in the rout. Orlando Garcia also drove in a pair of runs to help Tech score its most runs on Opening Day since the Red Raiders defeated Southern Utah, 14-3, in 2009.
Tanner Gardner drove home Tech's only run not coming from its top four hitters in the lineup as he drilled a RBI single to right field to cap the fourth inning. Gardner, making his first career Opening Day start in centerfield, finished 3-for-4 overall with two runs scored.
Ryan Moseley (1-0), making the second Opening Day start of his career, picked up the win for the Red Raiders after the right-hander allowed two runs, one of which that was earned, off five hits and four strikeouts.
He was relieved by a trio of Red Raiders making their Tech debuts, beginning with Robert Dugger who tossed one complete inning, allowing a run off two hits in the sixth. Hayden Howard followed with two shutout innings before Chandler Eden closed the game with a scoreless ninth.
Texas Tech's fifth double play of the game ends it as the Red Raiders defeat Milwaukee, 12-3! #WreckEm https://t.co/PmDmtLMH99
-- Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) February 19, 2016
Austin Schulfer (0-1) suffered the loss for Milwaukee after surrendering six runs off seven hits and three strikeouts over 3.2 innings. He was relieved late in the fourth inning by Jake Tuttle, one of four Milwaukee relievers.
The Red Raiders continue their four-game series against Milwaukee with a 12 p.m. doubleheader Saturday afternoon inside Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
GAME NOTES
TEXAS TECH WIN...
? Improved the Red Raiders to 43-24 all-time on Opening Day with the victory.
? Improved the Red Raiders to 16-2 on Opening Day since 1999.
? Improved the Red Raiders to 29-2 in home openers since 1985.
? Marked the 15th-consecutive Opening Day victory for the Red Raiders over a non-ranked opponent.
? Marked the 10th time in the last 18 seasons where the Red Raiders have scored at least 10 runs in their home opener.
? Improved Texas Tech head coach Tim Tadlock to 3-1 all-time on Opening Day.
? Improved Tim Tadlock to 103-75 over his three-plus seasons at Texas Tech.
ATTENDANCE NOTES
? Texas Tech's 4,070 fans in attendance marked the second-largest Opening Day crowd in program history.
? The crowd of 4,070 fans marked the 16th largest attendance in Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park history (2012-present).
Stephen Smith
? Finished with at least four hits for the third time in his career. It was his most hits since setting a career high with five hits on March 18, 2014, against Stephen F. Austin.
? His four hits marked the most for a Red Raider on Opening Day since John Capps also recorded four against Louisiana-Monroe in 2006.
Eric Gutierrez
? Recorded a multiple-hit game on Opening Day for the third time in his career.
? His 2-for-3 performance improved him to 7-for-13 all-time on Opening Day.
Cory Raley
? Recorded the 20th multiple-hit game of his career after finishing 3-for-5 with three RBI.
? Marked the sixth multiple-RBI outing of his career.
? Marked the eighth time in his career to have three or more hits in a game.
Orlando Garcia
? Notched the seventh multiple-RBI performance of his career after finishing 1-for-5 with two RBI in the win.
Tanner Gardner
? Recorded the sixth multiple-hit game of his career after finishing 3-for-4 at the plate.
Ryan Moseley
? Earned the Opening Day start for the second-straight season, marking just the sixth time in program history where a Red Raider has made multiple Opening Day starts.
? Became just the second Lubbock native to start multiple Opening Day games, joining current Colorado Rockies right-hander Chad Bettis.
? Earned his first career victory and the sixth win of his career after allowing two runs (one earned) over five complete innings.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Moseley, Ryan (1-0)
L: SCHULFER (0-1)
Batting:
2B: UNES 1
HR: VARSHO 1
RBI: VARSHO 1 ; DETERT 1 ; QUIRKE 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SOLBERG 1 ; VARSHO 1 ; JORDAHL 1
HBP: MEETEER 1
Batting:
2B: Smith, Stephen 3 ; Gutierrez, Eric 1 ; Gardner, Tanner 1
RBI: Raley, Cory 3 ; Garcia, Orlando 2 ; Smith, Stephen 3 ; Gutierrez, Eric 3 ; Gardner, Tanner 1
SH: Sanchez, Kholeton 1
SF: Gutierrez, Eric 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Raley, Cory 1 ; Garcia, Orlando 2 ; Smith, Stephen 3 ; Gardner, Tanner 2 ; Long, Ryan 1 ; Davis, Michael 3
SB: Gardner, Tanner 1 ; Davis, Michael 1
HBP: Gutierrez, Eric 1 ; Neslony, Tyler 1 ; Davis, Michael 1
