Recap: Tech blanks Baylor, 2-0

Sunday, April 24

Waco, TX

1:00 PM

Texas Tech Athletics

22-23, 0

Baylor

25-19, 0

Texas Tech

Baylor

April 24, 2022 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF) Series Stats

The Red Raiders shut out a Big 12 opponent for the first time this season.

WACO, Texas – Olivia Rains and Kendall Fritz combined for a shutout as Texas Tech (22-23, 5-10) took the series finale 2-0 against Baylor (25-19, 4-8) Sunday afternoon at Getterman Stadium in Waco.

The pitchers battled once again in a low-scoring affair as both teams collected five hits in the game. Both teams finished the series scoring a combined seven runs as each game ended in a shutout.

Tech threatened in the top of the second, loading the bases after a hit-by-pitch, and error and an infield single from Kennedy Crites, but were unable to bring a run across.

The Red Raiders finally broke through in the top of the fourth to score its first runs of the series to lead 2-0. Peyton Blythe singled to short to start things off and moved to second on a passed ball. Demi Elder drew a walk to put two on with one out for Crites who singled to left center to score Blythe. Another walk loaded the bases for Payton Jackson who singled back up the middle to score Elder before Page Mindedahl, running for Crites, was thrown out at the plate.

The Bears looked to respond in the bottom half of the inning as Aliyah Binford doubled for the first hit of the ballgame against Rains. Binford moved to third on a ground out and looked to score as Syndey Collazos smacked a ball hard to the left side but Riley Love went full extension to rob Collazos of the hit. Rains struck out the final batter of the inning to keep Baylor off the board.

Baylor put a runner in scoring position again in the fifth with a two-out single and a walk, but a fly out to left ended the inning to keep the score at 2-0.

Back-to-back Baylor singles ended the day for Rains in the sixth after 5.1 innings pitched, allowing just four hits and no runs. Fritz came in and retired the next two batters in three pitches to keep Baylor off the board.

The Bears had one final chance in the bottom of the seventh, putting the first two runners on base in the inning to bring the winning run to the plate. A ground out put the tying run in scoring position, but an infield pop out and a fly out to center ended the game.

Rains (1-6) collected her first win of the season, combining with Fritz for the shutout. Fritz earned her first save of the season pitching the final 1.2 innings allowing no runs and just one hit.

NOTABLES

Olivia Rains held Baylor hitless until the fourth inning and allowed just four all game to pick up her first win of the season. In the first inning, Rains threw seven pitches, forcing three groundouts to shortstop to retire the Bears in order.
Kennedy Crites entered the contest with two hits all season but went 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI to get the Red Raiders on the board first. All three hits landed for singles.
Olivia Rains and Kendall Fritz combined shutout was the ninth of the season for the Red Raider pitching staff and the first in Big 12 play this year for Tech. Entering the series the Red Raiders ranked in the top-50 in the nation in shutouts.

UP NEXT
The Red Raiders close out Big 12 play at home April 29 through May 1 against Texas.