Texas Tech falls in tournament finale to Cal

Sunday, February 26

Palm Springs, Calif.

1:30 p.m.

Texas Tech Athletics

California

Texas Tech falls in tournament finale to Cal

February 26, 2023 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Hanna Cooper

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – A two-run third frame for the Bears proved to be enough as Texas Tech fell, 3-0, to Cal in the Mary Nutter Classic finale Sunday at Big League Dreams.

The Red Raiders (12-5) finished the weekend at an even 3-3 after picking up wins over Cal Poly, UC San Diego and Bethune-Cookman.

Tech held Cal (14-2) scoreless through the opening two frames before giving up two runs in the third and one in the fifth.

The combined effort of Kendall Fritz (3-1) and Olivia Rains scattered four hits and tallied four strikeouts. The final run of the contest was unearned, keeping Rains' weekend line clean.

D'asha Saiki led off the third frame with a solo shot to plate the first run of the contest. After a hit by pitch, Mika Lee responded with a double to center field to give Cal the two necessary runs.

Rains stepped into the circle for Fritz follow the double and recorded the third out to send Tech's offense back to the plate, where Dee McClarity led off with a single but was left stranded.

In the bottom of the fifth, a walk put the lead off runner on. However, the Red Raider quickly cleared the base paths turning a 1-4-3 double play. With two outs, a Tech fielding error and a single from Makena Smith put a pair of runners on. A well-executed double steal plated the third and final run for Cal.

Notable

For the second straight weekend, freshman Kailey Wyckoff led the Red Raiders, going 10-for-21 (.476) with two doubles, a triple and a three RBIs.
Fellow freshman Dee McClarity saw her first starts in the scarlet and black. She finished the weekend batting .500 (3-for-8) with three RBIs.
The nation's doubles leaders added 10 more over the course of the weekend to bring the season total to 37.
Maddie Kuehl saw her first action of the season this weekend. She finished the tournament with a 2.80 ERA and a trio of strikeouts.

Next Up
Texas Tech heads home for the first time this season to play host to the Dr. Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic. The Red Raiders will open play Thursday at 6 p.m. against North Dakota.