Friday, February 26
Lubbock, TX
2 PM
Texas Tech Athletics
1-3
18
vs
3
Houston Baptist
1-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Houston Baptist
0
0
0
1
2
0
0
3
5
2
Texas Tech
0
8
7
1
2
0
X
18
21
1
No. 10 Tech Run-Rules HBU, 18-3, in Home Opener
February 26, 2021 | Baseball
Red Raiders and Huskies continue the series Saturday at 2 p.m.
LUBBOCK, Texas – The offensive fireworks came early and often for No. 10 Texas Tech baseball in its home opener as the Red Raiders went yard six times and racked up 21 hits on their way to an 18-3 run-rule victory over Houston Baptist Friday afternoon at Rip Griffin Park.
Â
Tech (1-3) homered in four consecutive innings from the second to the fifth, and all nine Red Raider starters scored a run as Tech jumped emphatically into the win column in its first home game since March 8 last season.
Â
A scoreless tie going into the bottom of the second didn't stay scoreless for long as Tech put up eight runs in the second, followed by seven in the third to bust open a 15-0 lead through three. The Red Raiders and Huskies (1-3) traded three runs over the fourth and fifth frames before the game ended in a run-rule victory after the Huskies were retired in the seventh.
Â
Nate Rombach got the scoring started with a two-run home run in the second, part of a three-hit, three-RBI performance He added an RBI double an inning later and then singles and scored in the fifth.
Â
Cole Stilwell also went deep in the second inning, clearing the bases with his first career grand slam. It was the first grand slam for the Red Raiders since Dylan Neuse's against Baylor in 2019. Stilwell and Jace Jung led the Red Raiders with four RBI on the day
Â
It was the Jung show in the third and the fourth as he homered in both frames, starting with a three-run blast in the third that made it 11-0. He followed with a leadoff homer in the fourth that answered the first run of the day by HBU and pushed the Tech lead to 16-1.
Â
Cal Conley also left the ballpark in the third inning, part of another multi-hit game for him. Conley, who finished 3-for-4 with a homer, a double, two RBI and three runs, has recorded multiple hits in all four games this season and in 11 of his 22 career games.
Â
Overall, eight of nine Red Raiders in the starting lineup had multi-hit games as Baker set the table in the leadoff spot, going 3-for-5. Kurt Wilson also had a pair of hits and an RBI, Braxton Fulford went 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs, and newcomer Braydon Runion hit his first career home run in a 2-for-4 showing.
Â
On the mound, Brandon Birdsell made his first collegiate start after appearing in eight games out of the bullpen for Texas A&M in 2019 and one for the Red Raiders in Arlington. Birdsell tossed 4.1 innings and earned the win, allowing three runs on five hits with two strikeouts. Nick Gorby, a freshman who made his first appearance, and Chase Webster followed with 2.2 innings of shutout ball.
Â
Tyler Zarella (0-1) took the loss for HBU. The Huskies were led at the plate by leadoff hitter Nathan Soriano, who went 2-for-4, and three-hole hitter Brandon Bena, who went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run.
Â
The win improves Tech to 34-3 all-time in home openers, including wins in 21 of its last 23 debuts. Tech is now 37-4 since 2010 in home-opening series.
Â
UP NEXT
The Red Raiders will look to clinch the series win on Saturday in a 2 p.m. first pitch from Rip Griffin Park. Left-hander Patrick Monteverde (0-0, 0.00) will be on the mound for the Red Raiders against right-hander Jacob Coats (0-0, 5.40 ERA) for the Huskies.
Â
Gates open at 1 p.m. A reminder to check www.TexasTech.com for ticket availability for the remainder of the series. Those unable to attend can watch the game on ESPN+ or listen in on the Texas Tech Sports Network.
Â
For all things Red Raider Baseball, follow @TTU_Baseball on Twitter and Instagram.
Â
Tech (1-3) homered in four consecutive innings from the second to the fifth, and all nine Red Raider starters scored a run as Tech jumped emphatically into the win column in its first home game since March 8 last season.
Â
A scoreless tie going into the bottom of the second didn't stay scoreless for long as Tech put up eight runs in the second, followed by seven in the third to bust open a 15-0 lead through three. The Red Raiders and Huskies (1-3) traded three runs over the fourth and fifth frames before the game ended in a run-rule victory after the Huskies were retired in the seventh.
Â
Nate Rombach got the scoring started with a two-run home run in the second, part of a three-hit, three-RBI performance He added an RBI double an inning later and then singles and scored in the fifth.
Â
Cole Stilwell also went deep in the second inning, clearing the bases with his first career grand slam. It was the first grand slam for the Red Raiders since Dylan Neuse's against Baylor in 2019. Stilwell and Jace Jung led the Red Raiders with four RBI on the day
Â
It was the Jung show in the third and the fourth as he homered in both frames, starting with a three-run blast in the third that made it 11-0. He followed with a leadoff homer in the fourth that answered the first run of the day by HBU and pushed the Tech lead to 16-1.
Â
Cal Conley also left the ballpark in the third inning, part of another multi-hit game for him. Conley, who finished 3-for-4 with a homer, a double, two RBI and three runs, has recorded multiple hits in all four games this season and in 11 of his 22 career games.
Â
Overall, eight of nine Red Raiders in the starting lineup had multi-hit games as Baker set the table in the leadoff spot, going 3-for-5. Kurt Wilson also had a pair of hits and an RBI, Braxton Fulford went 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs, and newcomer Braydon Runion hit his first career home run in a 2-for-4 showing.
Â
On the mound, Brandon Birdsell made his first collegiate start after appearing in eight games out of the bullpen for Texas A&M in 2019 and one for the Red Raiders in Arlington. Birdsell tossed 4.1 innings and earned the win, allowing three runs on five hits with two strikeouts. Nick Gorby, a freshman who made his first appearance, and Chase Webster followed with 2.2 innings of shutout ball.
Â
Tyler Zarella (0-1) took the loss for HBU. The Huskies were led at the plate by leadoff hitter Nathan Soriano, who went 2-for-4, and three-hole hitter Brandon Bena, who went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run.
Â
The win improves Tech to 34-3 all-time in home openers, including wins in 21 of its last 23 debuts. Tech is now 37-4 since 2010 in home-opening series.
Â
UP NEXT
The Red Raiders will look to clinch the series win on Saturday in a 2 p.m. first pitch from Rip Griffin Park. Left-hander Patrick Monteverde (0-0, 0.00) will be on the mound for the Red Raiders against right-hander Jacob Coats (0-0, 5.40 ERA) for the Huskies.
Â
Gates open at 1 p.m. A reminder to check www.TexasTech.com for ticket availability for the remainder of the series. Those unable to attend can watch the game on ESPN+ or listen in on the Texas Tech Sports Network.
Â
For all things Red Raider Baseball, follow @TTU_Baseball on Twitter and Instagram.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Birdsell, Brandon (1-0)
L: T. Zarella (0-1)
Batting:
RBI: B. Bena 1 ; D. Woods 1
SF: D. Woods 1
Base Running:
RUNS: B. Bena 1 ; S. Trinidad 1 ; C. Talbot 1
HBP: B. Bena 1 ; L. Botkin 1
Batting:
2B: Stilwell, Cole 1 ; Conley, Cal 1 ; Rombach, Nate 1
HR: Jung, Jace 2 ; Stilwell, Cole 1 ; Conley, Cal 1 ; Rombach, Nate 1 ; Runion, Braydon 1
RBI: Jung, Jace 4 ; Stilwell, Cole 4 ; Conley, Cal 2 ; Wilson, Kurt 1 ; Rombach, Nate 3 ; Runion, Braydon 2 ; Fulford, Braxton 1 ; Woodcox, Drew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Baker, Dru 2 ; Jung, Jace 2 ; Neuse, Dylan 1 ; Stilwell, Cole 2 ; Conley, Cal 3 ; Wilson, Kurt 1 ; Rombach, Nate 3 ; Runion, Braydon 2 ; Fulford, Braxton 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
2
1b/c
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballC/INF
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ Baseball
INF/C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
UTL/RHP
/ BaseballHighlights: Cincinnati (Big 12 Tournament)
Wednesday, May 21
Behind the Mic - UC vs TTU
Wednesday, May 21
Preview Presser: Cincinnati (B12 Tournament)
Tuesday, May 20
Highlights: BYU (Game Three)
Saturday, May 17