Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Oklahoma State
Texas Tech Outlasts Oklahoma State in 19-18 Victory
April 02, 2016 | Softball
April 2, 2016
LUBBOCK, Texas. -- Texas Tech claimed a hard-fought 19-18 victory over Big 12 foe Oklahoma State Saturday afternoon at Rocky Johnson Field which clinched the three-game series against the Cowgirls."I thought we hit the ball well," Texas Tech head coach Adrian Gregory said. "I thought our approach at the plate was spot-on and our defense played great. We stumbled in the fourth defensively, but other than that I thought we did a good job."
A big first inning for Texas Tech erased an early 1-0 deficit as both Brittany Warnecke and Kirsten Schwirtlich picked up two RBI to take a 4-1 lead going into the second.
Following a five run top of the second by the Cowgirls, Warnecke stayed hot at the plate, blasting a three-run home run to put the Red Raiders up 8-4 heading into the third.
The two teams traded blows down the stretch, but Texas Tech would hold on to claim their first series victory of the 2016 Big 12 season with a 19-18 victory.
"This series win was huge," added Gregory. "Everything we have gone through has prepared us for conference play. We have been in these games where we have a lead and we lose it, or it was a tight game, but we are getting it done. We are going into tomorrow looking to be tenacious and I think it is paying off."
With the win, the Red Raiders improved to 16-19 on the season, including a 2-0 mark in Big 12 play. The win also clinched Texas Tech's fourth series win against the Cowgirls in the last five seasons and improved the Red Raiders' win streak against OSU to six games.
The 22 hits and 19 runs by Texas Tech marked the highest offensive production by a Red Raider team since March 12, 2010, when Tech recorded 20 hits and 18 runs against North Carolina Central.
"I think our approach was great," said Warnecke. "Everyone came out hitting the ball well. Everyone stayed comfortable with the plan and I think that kept us in the game."
Bettiol matched her season high with four hits that she previously set against Long Beach State earlier this season. The four hits by Warnecke and Kiani Ramsey marked season highs for both players. Warnecke's seven RBI were the most RBI by a Red Raider since the 2014 season as she finished one shy of the school record of eight RBI set by Sandy James during the 2011 season.
"I think we need to continue to do what we are doing," Gregory said. "We need to come out and be aggressive at the plate and look for our pitch. We need to play great defense and we will see how tomorrow shakes out."
The Red Raiders will be back in action for the third and final game of the series with Oklahoma State Sunday at noon. Fans can follow all of the action from the 2016 softball season by following @TTUSB on Twitter.
