Martin, Howard Pitch No. 23 Texas Tech Past Oklahoma

Thursday, March 24

Lubbock, Texas

6:30 PM

Texas Tech Athletics

14-7, 3-1

Oklahoma

11-11-1, 0-1

Oklahoma

Texas Tech

Martin, Howard Pitch No. 23 Texas Tech Past Oklahoma

March 24, 2016 | Baseball

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March 24, 2016

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LUBBOCK, Texas -- No. 23 Texas Tech plated four runs in the first inning Thursday night and used six shutout innings from Davis Martin to down Oklahoma, 5-0, in the series opener at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.

The shutout marked the first time the Red Raiders (14-7; 3-1) had blanked two Big 12 Conference opponents in back-to-back series openers since Tech defeated Kansas State, 7-0, in Manhattan and followed with a 2-0 victory over No. 14 Oklahoma State in 2001.

The Red Raiders, who opened Big 12 play with a 5-0 victory over Baylor last Friday, provided Martin with plenty of run support, scoring their first run on an Eric Gutierrez RBI infield single before Oklahoma (11-11-1; 0-1) issued four-straight walks to bring in three more runs.

The four-run lead was more than enough for Martin (3-0), who strung together a similar performance to his previous outing against Baylor. Martin sat down six of the first seven Sooners he faced on his way to giving up just three hits while striking out a career-high seven hitters in the win.

In his two starts so far during Big 12 play, Martin has combined to toss 12.0 shutout innings with just five hits allowed and 11 strikeouts.

Hayden Howard, meanwhile, retired Oklahoma in order over his first two innings of relief after replacing Martin to begin the seventh. Howard surrendered just one hit to record his first save of the season as he worked around a bases-loaded jam in the ninth with his fifth and final strikeout.

Howard's five strikeouts matched his career high as he also had five on March 12 at No. 9 California. Howard and Martin combined for 12 strikeouts, one shy of Tech's season high set on March 2 earlier this year against New Mexico State.

Oklahoma starter Alec Hansen (0-4) suffered the loss as the right-hander lasted just two-thirds of an inning, giving up four runs off three hits and three walks. He was relieved by Keaton Hernandez, who tossed 2.1 shutout innings before Ryan Madden came on to pitch the final five frames.

The Red Raiders added their only other run in the sixth inning as Tech quickly loaded the bases off a leadoff single from Tyler Floyd and consecutive hit-by-pitches to both Orlando Garcia and Stephen Smith. Zach Davis plated Floyd immediately after with a RBI fielder's choice to Oklahoma shortstop Sheldon Neuse.

Garcia led the Red Raiders at the plate as he reached safely in all four plate appearances thanks to singles in the fourth and eighth innings and a RBI walk in the opening frame. It was his fourth multi-hit game this season.

Gutierrez also reached three times as he followed his RBI single in the first with walks in both the third and fifth innings. His walk in the fifth was the eighth-consecutive plate appearance where Gutierrez had reached safely dating back to Tuesday's victory over New Mexico. It marked the longest streak for a Red Raider since Jake Barrios also reached safely in eight-consecutive plate appearances on March 16-18, 2013.

The Red Raiders continue the series Friday evening with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch. Tickets are still available for each of the final two games of the series and can be purchased by calling 806-742-TECH or by visiting the Ticket Office website.