Program-Record nine HRs push Tech to 21-3 win over ACU

Wednesday, April 10

Abilene, TX

6:05 p.m. CT

Texas Tech Athletics

Abilene Christian

Program-Record nine HRs push Tech to 21-3 win over ACU

April 10, 2024 | Baseball

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The Red Raiders hit nine longballs in the seven-inning win, as four different Red Raiders blasted a pair of home runs

By: Andrew Stern

ABILENE, Texas – Behind a program-record nine longballs, the Texas Tech Baseball program blasted ACU 21-3 Wednesday night at Crutcher Scott Field.

In the victory, four different Texas Tech (25-9) players hit multiple home runs including first baseman Gavin Kash who led off the game with a home run and second baseman TJ Pompey who hit a solo home run and a fifth inning grand slam.

Kash's solo bomb came on the first pitch of the game, marking the second time that the lefty has lifted the first pitch of a game over the wall (UNM, Mar. 5).

With his two home run performance Kash moved into a tie for ninth on the all-time home run list tying a fellow All-American first baseman, Eric Gutierrez with 36 career home runs. Kash needs just eight more home runs to tie Clint Bryant's all-time HR record.

Other strong performances Wednesday including third baseman Cade McGee going a perfect 2-for-2 with a pair of home runs, three walks and four runs scored and left fielder Drew Woodcox hitting 110 and 111 MPH home runs.

It was Woodcox's last home run, a laser beam in the sixth that broke the program record for most home runs in a single game. The previous record of eight long balls occurred three times previously: Apr. 5, 1997 against Missouri, Mar. 23, 1996 against Baylor and Mar. 23, 1984 vs. Baylor.

On the mound, the Red Raiders got strong performances from four different pitchers, as relievers Isaiah Rhodes, Hudson Luce, Max Huffling and Carson Baugh combined to throw 4.2 innings of no-hit ball in relief of start Hudson Parker.

Parker who pitched a scoreless first and second innings, lasted 2.1 innings, allowing three runs. Two of Parker's three runs were unearned.

In his strongest outing as a Red Raider, Luce fired 2.1 hitless innings allowing just one walk. Luce retired seven of the eight batters he faced to earn his second win of the season.

And while the Red Raiders excelled on the mound minus the three-run third inning, it was the bats that stole the show, as Tech scored in the first six innings, including 18 runs in the second-through-sixth innings.

The bottom of the Tech lineup (McGee, Tracer Lopez and Pompey) combined to go 7-for-12 in the win with five home runs and 12 RBIs.

With the victory, the Red Raiders will ride a seven-game winning streak overall into a crucial matchup with TCU this season.

UP NEXT:
The Red Raiders will make the short trip across I-20 for the aforementioned weekend series with TCU. First pitch from Fort Worth is set for 6:30 p.m. on Friday, 3 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.