No. 16 Tech cruises to 6-1 win over GCU

Tuesday, April 18

Lubbock, TX

6:30 p.m. CT

Texas Tech Athletics

26-12

Grand Canyon

20-16

Grand Canyon

Texas Tech

No. 16 Tech cruises to 6-1 win over GCU

April 18, 2023 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Highlights Postgame Press Conference Tickets

By: Matt Burkholder

LUBBOCK, Texas – No. 16 Texas Tech defeated Grand Canyon 6-1 on Tuesday night at Rip Griffin Park. The Red Raiders pounced for four runs in the first inning and rode the arm of Taber Fast over a season-best six innings en route to the win.

"Taber's a competitor," said head coach Tim Tadlock. "Early on he didn't have great feel but fought through it and executed pitches when he needed to. He found some rhythm in the stretch and made some pitches. That's a lot closer to the guy we saw the whole fall. Just a really good start for him."

Fast was near perfect in a one-run, two-hitter performance despite an erratic start walking three of the first six batters he faced. He settled in and did not allow a base on balls over the next 19 batters he faced. The sole run the freshman allowed was the first batter of the seventh inning, a hit-by-pitch, that triggered Texas Tech to make a call to the bullpen.

Had Fast retired an out in the seventh, it would have been a Red Raiders' season-high but he joins five other teammates that have turned in six complete innings this season; no Tech player has gone longer in 2023. Fast was efficient as he got past the first five innings using 59 pitches. It took him nine pitches to get past the sixth growing his pitch count to 68 before exiting with 72 after the one batter in the seventh. He tossed a career-best four strikeouts.

"I feel like it was more of a confidence thing with me," said Fast about Tuesday's strong outing. "Going into this game I had more confidence, and it was more about a mentality thing as well. Knowing that I can go out and compete against these guys, at this level, and trusting my pitches."

Of the two hits Fast surrendered, the first was an infield single in the third that was snapped back off his leg while the second was a triple hit deep to the right-center field wall. The runner was stranded on third during an evening GCU was 1-for-10 hitting with runners in scoring position.

The Red Raiders jumped on Grand Canyon in the first by belting a pair of home runs over the first five at-bats. Both were two-run jimmy jacks as Ty Coleman smacked a home run on a nine-pitch at-bat with leadoff hitter Nolen Hester aboard via a walk. Kevin Bazzell singled and was followed by the No. 5 hitter in the lineup Gavin Kash, who smashed his Big 12-leading 17th home run to put Texas Tech in front, 4-0, quickly.

Coleman led off the fifth with a sole home run slapped on a 3-0 pitch to build the Red Raiders' lead to 5-0. It marked Coleman's third multi-home run game of his career but the first of 2023. The senior entered Tuesday's game with just one home run after knocking eight during his first season with the Red Raiders as a junior.

"I thought Ty went up there very aggressively in his first at-bat and had a long at-bat," Tadlock said. "The guy made a mistake and he hit it out. With the other one, it's always fun when you have guys that know how to hit a pitch when it's 3-0."

Grand Canyon's one run was scored in the seventh utilizing the hit-by-pitch Fast issued to the last batter he faced. Brandon Beckel was first in line from the bullpen in relief and tossed two innings. One of the three hits he allowed would be a double in the seventh that scored the run that was Fast's responsibility.

Kyle Robinson finished the job in the ninth. Robinson has not allowed a hit in four consecutive appearances out of the bullpen dating back to April 1 versus TCU.

Up Next
The midweek series wraps up with a Noon start on Wednesday. RHP Zane Petty will get the start for Texas Tech while RHP Carson Ohl gets the nod for Grand Canyon.