No. 8 Tech Opens TCU Series with 14-Inning Heartbreaker

Thursday, May 16

Lubbock, TX

6:30 PM

Texas Tech Athletics

34-15, 0

TCU

29-22, 0

TCU

Texas Tech

No. 8 Tech Opens TCU Series with 14-Inning Heartbreaker

May 17, 2019 | Baseball

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Red Raiders strike out 21 Horned Frogs in 3-1 loss.

By: Texas Tech Athletics Communications

LUBBOCK, Texas – Runs were at a premium Thursday night as No. 8 Texas Tech baseball and TCU took a scoreless game into the 11^th and a 1-1 game into the 14^th before the Horned Frogs came away with a 3-1 victory to open the three-game series in front of more than 4,000 fans at Rip Griffin Park.

A two-run double with the bases loaded in the top of the 14^th allowed TCU (29-22, 11-11) to edge out the Red Raiders (34-15, 14-8), who missed an opportunity to overtake Baylor at the top of the Big 12 standings with two games remaining. It was the first time Tech has played to 14 innings since playing 16 against Abilene Christian in 2015.

An odd sequence in the top of the eleventh allowed the Horned Frogs to get on the board first. TCU had a runner at first who attempted to swipe second, and as the throw went down it bounced off the glove of junior shortstop Josh Jung and rolled into right field to allow the runner to reach third. With two away, reliever John McMillon appeared to end the inning with a swinging third strike, but catcher Braxton Fulford lost his footing as he attempted the throw to first and the man at third scored.

Down to their final out in the eleventh, senior Cameron Warren started a two-out rally with a single to center. With freshman Dru Baker in to pinch run, sophomore Cody Masters belted a double down the right field line, and Baker hustled all the way around, sneaking his left hand past the catcher's mitt to touch home and tie the game.

Tech starter Micah Dallas and TCU starter Nick Lodolo were sensational in their respective starts as neither side allowed a runner to third until the eighth. Both pitchers matched their career highs in strikeouts with Dallas recording eight and Lodolo posting 13.

Four relievers out of the Tech bullpen combined to add 13 strikeouts as the Red Raider pitching staff finished with 21 on the night. It marks the most by a Big 12 team this season, tied for the seventh most in D-I this year, and the most by a Red Raider team since striking out 20 at Texas A&M on March 14, 2008.

The Red Raider defense made several key plays to back up the pitching staff. It turned double plays in the second and fifth innings, and Fulford threw out a pair of runners on the bases in the sixth and seventh.

Sophomore center fielder Dylan Neuse preserved the scoreless tie in the top of the ninth, throwing out a base runner at home that was attempting to score from second on a one-out single. TCU would return the favor in the bottom of the 13^th as Jung attempted to score from second on a single from reserve infielder Dru Baker.

Senior Cameron Warren highlighted four Red Raiders with multi-hit games, going 3-for-5 with a double. Sophomore Gabe Holt recorded two hits, Fulford went 2-for-5 with a walk and sophomore Cody Masters came off the bench to go 2-for-3 with the RBI double.

TCU's Johnny Rizer led the Horned Frogs at the plate, going 4-for-6 on the evening and scoring the first run of the contest. Catcher Zach Humphreys provided the go-ahead double down the right field line for his only hit of the night.

Junior John McMillon (2-3) was stellar in relief with six strikeouts in 3.0 innings. He closed out the 11^th and carried Tech into the 14^th before allowing a pair of one-out singles. TCU's Dalton Brown (1-0) received the win while Augie Mihlbauer (1) earned the save.

The Red Raiders and Horned Frogs will return to Rip Griffin Park for the second of three games on Friday. Texas Tech will throw junior right-hander Caleb Kilian (7-2) against TCU right-hander Charles King (4-2). First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. on FOX Sports Southwest Plus.