Tech evens the series with the Cyclones

Saturday, April 1

Lubbock, Texas

1 p.m.

Texas Tech Athletics

27-12, 1-4

Iowa State

12-18, 1-4

Iowa State

Texas Tech

Tech evens the series with the Cyclones

April 01, 2023 | Softball

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The Red Raiders earn their first conference win

By: Hanna Cooper

LUBBOCK, Texas – Powered by a trio of home runs, Texas Tech evened the series with Iowa State, 8-4, en route to its first conference win of the season Saturday afternoon at Rocky Johnson Field.

"It was great that our ball club came out and fought the way they did today," head coach Craig Snider said. "They came out a little more prepared and ready today. We saw that from the start; we were swinging the bat and really scoring runs. I am proud of the ball club and how they responded today."

Home runs from Kailey Wyckoff, Ellie Bailey and Alanna Barraza would prove to the be the difference in the middle game of the series. With Bailey's home run, she moves to ninth in Tech's single-season home run record with 13.

Tech's red-hot offense has now blasted 63 home runs on the season. The Red Raiders (27-11, 1-4 Big 12) are now just four home runs shy of shattering the program's single-season record.

Tech found themselves in a battle as the Cyclones (12-18, 1-4 Big 12) plated three runs off four hits in the top of the opening frame. After striking out the leadoff batter, Iowa State would knock four singles to take an early 3-0 lead.

However, Tech refused to back down, plating four runs in the bottom half of the opening frame to take the lead once and for all. A walk, hit by pitch and a Wyckoff single loaded the bases for Barraza. Barraza worked a seven-pitch at-bat to draw a walk and score the first run of the inning.

Riley Love followed directly behind Barraza and ripped the first pitch she saw to right-center field to clear the bases.

Sage Hoover (14-0) settled in, striking out the side in the top of the second to hold the Cyclones at-bay. Wyckoff would add some insurance in the bottom of the second by blasting a two-run home run to give Tech a 6-3 lead.

Hoover continued to hurl, again striking out the side in the top of the third to tally six consecutive punch outs. The righty would relinquish just one hit, a solo home run, after the first inning, finishing the day with eight strikeouts.

The Tech offense would add two more runs in the bottom of the fifth as Bailey and Barraza both rocketed solo shots to set up the 8-4 final.

Maddie Kuehl entered in the fifth inning and hurled two scoreless frames, where the Cyclones only saw one base runner, to solidify Tech's first conference win.

Next Up
Texas Tech looks to take the series from the Cyclones in the Sunday finale. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.