Wednesday, May 22
Arlington, Texas
7:30 p.m.
Texas Tech Athletics
vs
Oklahoma State
Tech to Meet No. 19 OSU Wed. in Big 12 Championships
May 22, 2024 | Baseball
ARLINGTON, Texas. – Fresh off a dramatic 6-4 late night/early morning victory over No. 24 Texas, Texas Tech Baseball returns to action on Wednesday night against Oklahoma State.
In rematch from a weekend series two weekends ago, the Red Raiders will throw LHP Zach Erdman while OSU will counter with two-way player Carson Benge.
First pitch from Arlington is set for 8:40 p.m.
INSIDE THE MATCHUPS:
MATCHUP: Texas Tech (32-24) vs. Oklahoma State (36-16)
DATE: Wednesday, May 22, 2024
TIME: 8:40 p.m. Â
LOCATION: Globe Life Field (Arlington, Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: LHP Zach Erdman (0-0, 6.52 ERA) vs. RHP Carson Benge (2-1, 2.45 ERA) Â
1-2-3 HEADLINES:
* Fresh off an epic 6-4 win over No. 24 Texas that came in the wee hours of the morning (the game ended at around 12:30 a.m. local) the Red Raiders are back in action on Wednesday night seeking to improve to 2-0 in the Big 12 Conference Tournament in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history. The Red Raiders have twice started 2-0 at the Big 12 Tournament: 1998 (Tech won it all) and in 2023 when Tech fell in the semifinals to OSU. Â The Red Raiders won Wednesday late night thriller in the ninth after a clutch two-run home run from Cade McGee and a scoreless ninth inning from closer Josh Sanders. Sanders earned his team leading fifth win of the season on Tuesday.
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* Meeting in Arlington for the second straight year, the Red Raiders will look to snap a four-game losing streak against OSU that includes the two losses last season in the semifinals of the Big 12 Championships as well as pair of losses early in May in Stillwater. The four game losing streak snapped a 16-3 stretch for Tech that dated back to the 2018 season and included two series sweeps in Stillwater and the 2019 Super Regional victory over the Cowboys.
* In the weekend series two weeks ago in Arlington, the Red Raiders and Cowboys saw the Sunday finale canceled due to inclement weather. In what could only be described as ironic, the Red Raiders and Cowboys will both throw their exact same starter from that night as LHP Zach Erdman will take the ball for the Red Raiders while two-way player Carson Benge will throw for OSU.
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MATCHUP NOTES:
WE'LL GET A THIRD MATCHUP AFTER ALLÂ
Despite the Sunday game between Tech and OSU getting canceled due to inclement weather, the Red Raiders and Cowboy will meet for a third time after all, this time in Arlington. In an ironic turn of fate, the projected starting pitchers from that game Tech's Zach Erdman and OSU's Carson Benge are the projected starting pitchers for Wednesday's second round game.
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TWO-AND-OH TIMES TWOÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
With a victory on Wednesday night against Oklahoma State, the Red Raiders would secure the second straight 2-0 start at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament, as the Red Raiders opened last season's Big 12 Championships with wins over West Virginia (6-2) and Oklahoma (10-9) before falling twice to the Cowboys. If the Red Raiders could start 2-0 this season it would mark the first consecutive 2-0 starts at the Big 12 Championships in program history. In fact, the Red Raiders have started 2-0 at the Big 12 Championships just twice in program history: 2023 (lost in the Seminfinals to OSU) and 1998 (lone Big 12 Tournament title).
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DEEP INTO THE NIGHT [AND MORNING]
Due to the previous game running long, the Red Raiders matchup with No. 24 Texas was pushed back to a 9:21 p.m. (CT) start time. The first pitch from Texas' Ace Whitehead to DH TJ Pompey was thrown at 9:22 PM. The late start set up the potential for late night magic, as Cade McGee strolled to the plate a mere moments prior to midnight.
MCGEES MIDNIGHT MAGIC
In what could be the final all-time meeting between Texas Tech and Texas as conference foes, the Red Raiders etched another classic in the long and storied rivalry when Cade McGee launched a majestic 380-foot blast that hit halfway up the foul pole in left. McGee blast clanged off the foul pole just as the clock struck midnight. The long ball which came off UTs Andre Duplantier conjured memories from a 2022 walk-off grandslam from Tech legend Kurt Wilson. McGee's home run was his team leading 15th of the season and gave the Red Raiders their first lead of the night at 6-4.
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KA$H BOMBS Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
In Friday's Arizona finale, first baseman Gavin Kash launched his 14th home run of the season to reach the 40 home run mark for his career. Kash became just the fifth Red Raider in program history to reach 40 longballs joining Clint Bryant (1993-96; 44), Josh Bard (1997-99; 43), Joe Dillon (1996-97; 43) and Mike Humphreys (1985-88; 41) to hit 40 career bombs. Kash needs just four more home runs in his career to tie Bryant's program record.
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ROBINSON SHOVESÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
In his start two Saturdays ago, Kyle Robinson turned in a career-night firing 6.1 innings with a career-best 11 punchouts. After allowing Robinson, who after allowing a two-out two-run double in the first settled into a rhythm. The double was the only extra base hit the right-hander allowed as he went six-plus innings and allowed just three runs. He struck out 11 including all three batters in the first.
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After the Pokes struck out the side in the top of the second, Robinson answered his counterpart in the bottom using his fourth and fifth punchouts of the night to strand a pair. In the third, Robinson again answered the bell, using his sixth and seventh strikeouts to close a 1-2-3 third. Both pitchers worked around a single in the fourth to fire zeros, as the game went to the top of the fifth deadlocked at two. Robinson fired another strong 1-2-3 inning in the last of the fifth before striking out a pair in a scoreless sixth.
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BRAVO. DAMIAN BRAVO. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Damian Bravo has been great in his second season in Lubbock, as the Sophomore hit a .384 in his 45 games played. Bravo lead the Big 12 in average and doubles. The OF became the first Red Raider to lead the league in average since Josh Jung did it in 2018. Bravo's .384 average would be the fifth-highest single season average in program history.
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POWERS BEEN SURGING Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
The Red Raider bats have experienced a bit of a power surge since failing to homer in the three-game weekend series at Kansas. In fact with the nine homers that Tech hit last weekend against ASU (twice) and UNLV (once), the Red Raiders have now hit 94 home runs this season the most in a season since 1998 when the Red Raiders lifted 95 long balls. If the Red Raiders are able to go deep twice in Arlington this week, they would eclipse 95 long balls for the first time since 1997 when they lifted a program-record 108. The only other 95+ home run seasons in program history are 1984 (107), 1996 (97) and 1998 (95). With his home run last weekend in Arizona, INF TJ Pompey became the fourth Red Raider to hit 10 bombs this season. Tech hit three more home runs yesterday to reach 97 on the year.Â
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ONE MORE FREE PASS FOR 300 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
After walking a program record 367 times in 2023, the Red Raiders eclipsed 300 walks with their two free passes drawn last night as the Red Raiders now have drawn 301 free passes this season.
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RUNNIN' RUNNIN' Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
The Red Raiders have clearly been aggressive on the base-paths this season, as the club has now stolen 59 bases in 55 games played. The Red Raiders went until Mar. 23 against BYU without a caught stealing as the Red Raiders went 28 consecutive stolen base attempts with out a caught stealing. Tech has been caught stealing just seven times and already have stolen 31 more bases than 2023 (28). Last weekend in Arizona the Red Raiders stole 10 bases over the three games including six against Arizona State last Friday night. The Red Raiders 59 total steals are the most since 2017. Five of the 10 stolen bases came from OF Gage Harrelson who stole a pair of bases against UNLV and three bases against ASU. Harrelson has now stolen 18 bags without being caught.
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BRIDGES HAS BEEN USED OFTEN Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
With his appearance Sunday on Senior Day against Oklahoma, Bridges pitched in a game for the 73rd time as a Red Raider. With that appearance, Bridges passed former Red Raiders John McMillian for seventh all-time on the appearance list. With his appearance last Friday in Tempe, Bridges saw action in his 74th career game which tied the lefty with Brian Cloud for sixth all-time on the list. Â
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SANDY JOINS THE TOP-10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
In arguably his most effective season as a Red Raider, senior Josh Sanders continues to take the ball for the Red Raiders. Sanders has now appeared in 70 career games after his stint last week against UNLV. The righty passed Jerad McCrummen for eighth all-time in appearances. Sanders also made his 26th appearance of the season last night earning his fifth win. He needs just two more to crack the top-10 in a single season.
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NINE IN SEVEN BRINGS SCHOOL RECORDÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
The Red Raiders slugged a school-record nine home runs in the victory over ACU, as four different Red Raiders hit multiple home runs (Cade McGee, Gavin Kash, TJ Pompey and Drew Woodcox). Tech became the first Big 12 Team since 2019 to sock nine home runs as the four players with multiple home runs are the most by a Big 12 team since at least 2011.  Â
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6-4-3 HISTORYÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
On Friday night against Kansas, the Red Raiders turned seven double plays in nine innings. The Red Raiders turned a double play in every inning except the fourth and ninth. The streak started in the bottom of the first when Ryan Free induced a 4-3 GDPÂ of Jake English in the first. In the second inning, Free ended the inning with a 6-4-3 GDP. In the third Free put the first two outs on the board on a 4-6-3 double play. In the fifth, Free got English to ground into another GDP, this time started by SS Tracer Lopez who flipped to TJ Pompey who then threw to Gavin Kash to complete the 6-4-3 DP. In the sixth, reliever Josh Sanders ended the inning with a 6-3 DP before a line drive DP in the seventh ended another inning. In the eighth, Sanders erased a lead off single for the Red Raiders seventh double play of the game. The seven double plays were a new school record and tied the all-time NCAA mark. It was the fifth time in NCAA history that a team had turned seven double plays.
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UP NEXT:
With a victory the Red Raiders would face UCF on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. If the Red Raiders fall on Wednesday night they will instead face Cincinnati on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. in an elimination game.
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In rematch from a weekend series two weekends ago, the Red Raiders will throw LHP Zach Erdman while OSU will counter with two-way player Carson Benge.
First pitch from Arlington is set for 8:40 p.m.
INSIDE THE MATCHUPS:
MATCHUP: Texas Tech (32-24) vs. Oklahoma State (36-16)
DATE: Wednesday, May 22, 2024
TIME: 8:40 p.m. Â
LOCATION: Globe Life Field (Arlington, Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: LHP Zach Erdman (0-0, 6.52 ERA) vs. RHP Carson Benge (2-1, 2.45 ERA) Â
1-2-3 HEADLINES:
* Fresh off an epic 6-4 win over No. 24 Texas that came in the wee hours of the morning (the game ended at around 12:30 a.m. local) the Red Raiders are back in action on Wednesday night seeking to improve to 2-0 in the Big 12 Conference Tournament in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history. The Red Raiders have twice started 2-0 at the Big 12 Tournament: 1998 (Tech won it all) and in 2023 when Tech fell in the semifinals to OSU. Â The Red Raiders won Wednesday late night thriller in the ninth after a clutch two-run home run from Cade McGee and a scoreless ninth inning from closer Josh Sanders. Sanders earned his team leading fifth win of the season on Tuesday.
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* Meeting in Arlington for the second straight year, the Red Raiders will look to snap a four-game losing streak against OSU that includes the two losses last season in the semifinals of the Big 12 Championships as well as pair of losses early in May in Stillwater. The four game losing streak snapped a 16-3 stretch for Tech that dated back to the 2018 season and included two series sweeps in Stillwater and the 2019 Super Regional victory over the Cowboys.
* In the weekend series two weeks ago in Arlington, the Red Raiders and Cowboys saw the Sunday finale canceled due to inclement weather. In what could only be described as ironic, the Red Raiders and Cowboys will both throw their exact same starter from that night as LHP Zach Erdman will take the ball for the Red Raiders while two-way player Carson Benge will throw for OSU.
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MATCHUP NOTES:
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LOOKING TO AVENGE TWO WEEKS AGO
The Red Raiders on Wednesday night will look to avenge a two-game sweep to the Cowboys two weekends ago. The Red Raiders dropped the opening night of the series 16-4 before falling 9-3 on Saturday. In the Friday night game, lefty Ryan Free was tagged for 11 runs over the first three innings. In the Saturday game, the Red Raideers got six strong innings from Kyle Robinson before the bullpen allowed six runs in the loss. The big blow in that game was a three-run home run by Carson Benge that gave the Cowboys a 5-2 lead.
LOOKING TO AVENGE TWO WEEKS AGO
WE'LL GET A THIRD MATCHUP AFTER ALLÂ
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TWO-AND-OH TIMES TWOÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
With a victory on Wednesday night against Oklahoma State, the Red Raiders would secure the second straight 2-0 start at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament, as the Red Raiders opened last season's Big 12 Championships with wins over West Virginia (6-2) and Oklahoma (10-9) before falling twice to the Cowboys. If the Red Raiders could start 2-0 this season it would mark the first consecutive 2-0 starts at the Big 12 Championships in program history. In fact, the Red Raiders have started 2-0 at the Big 12 Championships just twice in program history: 2023 (lost in the Seminfinals to OSU) and 1998 (lone Big 12 Tournament title).
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THE SERIES HAS BEEN STREAKY
After the pair of setbacks in the Big 12 semifinals a season ago to Oklahoma State, the Red Raiders have now lost four straight to the Cowboys. The losing streak comes on the heels of a stretch where the Red Raiders won 16-of-19 against OSU. That stretch which started in 2018 including a three-game series sweep in Stillwater and a Big 12 Tournament victory in Oklahoma City. In 2019, the Red Raiders swept the Cowboys in the regular season before taking 2/3 in the Super Regionals. After not playing in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tech won 2/3 at home before sweeping the Cowboys at O'Brate for the first time. In 2023, Tech won on Friday and Sunday to secure the series.
DEEP INTO THE NIGHT [AND MORNING]
Due to the previous game running long, the Red Raiders matchup with No. 24 Texas was pushed back to a 9:21 p.m. (CT) start time. The first pitch from Texas' Ace Whitehead to DH TJ Pompey was thrown at 9:22 PM. The late start set up the potential for late night magic, as Cade McGee strolled to the plate a mere moments prior to midnight.
MCGEES MIDNIGHT MAGIC
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WELL PREPARED
The Red Raiders enter the Big 12 Championship looking for a strong performance to extend the season and avoid seeing an seven-year regional final streak snapped and a streak of seven straight regionals made. The last time the Red Raiders missed the NCAA Tournament was 2015. Despite entering the tournament as the lowest seed, the Red Raiders have been well prepared for postseason play as Tech has played six teams that have won over 35 games and three teams with 40+ victories. The Red Raiders 26 opponents are a combined 161 games over .500 this season (764-603) entering postseason and have averaged 29.4 wins. Those teams have played to a winning percentage of .559. Â
ACCOLADES ROLLED IN
The Red Raiders saw nine different players earn All-Big 12 honors including catcher Kevin Bazzell who was named a Second Team All-Big 12 selection. In addition to Bazzell taking home Second Team honors, six different Red Raiders were honorable mention selections as Damian Bravo, Gavin Kash, Drew Woodcox, Cade McGee, TJ Pompey and Kyle Robinson all took home honorable mention. And while the seven overall honors were impressive, the Red Raiders weren't done there, as three different freshman also earned Big 12 All-Freshman honors as SP Mac Heuer, Parker Hutyra and Pompey were all named All-Freshman selections.Â
KA$H BOMBS Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
In Friday's Arizona finale, first baseman Gavin Kash launched his 14th home run of the season to reach the 40 home run mark for his career. Kash became just the fifth Red Raider in program history to reach 40 longballs joining Clint Bryant (1993-96; 44), Josh Bard (1997-99; 43), Joe Dillon (1996-97; 43) and Mike Humphreys (1985-88; 41) to hit 40 career bombs. Kash needs just four more home runs in his career to tie Bryant's program record.
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ROBINSON SHOVESÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
In his start two Saturdays ago, Kyle Robinson turned in a career-night firing 6.1 innings with a career-best 11 punchouts. After allowing Robinson, who after allowing a two-out two-run double in the first settled into a rhythm. The double was the only extra base hit the right-hander allowed as he went six-plus innings and allowed just three runs. He struck out 11 including all three batters in the first.
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After the Pokes struck out the side in the top of the second, Robinson answered his counterpart in the bottom using his fourth and fifth punchouts of the night to strand a pair. In the third, Robinson again answered the bell, using his sixth and seventh strikeouts to close a 1-2-3 third. Both pitchers worked around a single in the fourth to fire zeros, as the game went to the top of the fifth deadlocked at two. Robinson fired another strong 1-2-3 inning in the last of the fifth before striking out a pair in a scoreless sixth.
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BRAVO. DAMIAN BRAVO. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Damian Bravo has been great in his second season in Lubbock, as the Sophomore hit a .384 in his 45 games played. Bravo lead the Big 12 in average and doubles. The OF became the first Red Raider to lead the league in average since Josh Jung did it in 2018. Bravo's .384 average would be the fifth-highest single season average in program history.
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POWERS BEEN SURGING Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
The Red Raider bats have experienced a bit of a power surge since failing to homer in the three-game weekend series at Kansas. In fact with the nine homers that Tech hit last weekend against ASU (twice) and UNLV (once), the Red Raiders have now hit 94 home runs this season the most in a season since 1998 when the Red Raiders lifted 95 long balls. If the Red Raiders are able to go deep twice in Arlington this week, they would eclipse 95 long balls for the first time since 1997 when they lifted a program-record 108. The only other 95+ home run seasons in program history are 1984 (107), 1996 (97) and 1998 (95). With his home run last weekend in Arizona, INF TJ Pompey became the fourth Red Raider to hit 10 bombs this season. Tech hit three more home runs yesterday to reach 97 on the year.Â
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ONE MORE FREE PASS FOR 300 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
After walking a program record 367 times in 2023, the Red Raiders eclipsed 300 walks with their two free passes drawn last night as the Red Raiders now have drawn 301 free passes this season.
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RUNNIN' RUNNIN' Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
The Red Raiders have clearly been aggressive on the base-paths this season, as the club has now stolen 59 bases in 55 games played. The Red Raiders went until Mar. 23 against BYU without a caught stealing as the Red Raiders went 28 consecutive stolen base attempts with out a caught stealing. Tech has been caught stealing just seven times and already have stolen 31 more bases than 2023 (28). Last weekend in Arizona the Red Raiders stole 10 bases over the three games including six against Arizona State last Friday night. The Red Raiders 59 total steals are the most since 2017. Five of the 10 stolen bases came from OF Gage Harrelson who stole a pair of bases against UNLV and three bases against ASU. Harrelson has now stolen 18 bags without being caught.
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BRIDGES HAS BEEN USED OFTEN Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
With his appearance Sunday on Senior Day against Oklahoma, Bridges pitched in a game for the 73rd time as a Red Raider. With that appearance, Bridges passed former Red Raiders John McMillian for seventh all-time on the appearance list. With his appearance last Friday in Tempe, Bridges saw action in his 74th career game which tied the lefty with Brian Cloud for sixth all-time on the list. Â
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SANDY JOINS THE TOP-10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
In arguably his most effective season as a Red Raider, senior Josh Sanders continues to take the ball for the Red Raiders. Sanders has now appeared in 70 career games after his stint last week against UNLV. The righty passed Jerad McCrummen for eighth all-time in appearances. Sanders also made his 26th appearance of the season last night earning his fifth win. He needs just two more to crack the top-10 in a single season.
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NINE IN SEVEN BRINGS SCHOOL RECORDÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
The Red Raiders slugged a school-record nine home runs in the victory over ACU, as four different Red Raiders hit multiple home runs (Cade McGee, Gavin Kash, TJ Pompey and Drew Woodcox). Tech became the first Big 12 Team since 2019 to sock nine home runs as the four players with multiple home runs are the most by a Big 12 team since at least 2011.  Â
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6-4-3 HISTORYÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
On Friday night against Kansas, the Red Raiders turned seven double plays in nine innings. The Red Raiders turned a double play in every inning except the fourth and ninth. The streak started in the bottom of the first when Ryan Free induced a 4-3 GDPÂ of Jake English in the first. In the second inning, Free ended the inning with a 6-4-3 GDP. In the third Free put the first two outs on the board on a 4-6-3 double play. In the fifth, Free got English to ground into another GDP, this time started by SS Tracer Lopez who flipped to TJ Pompey who then threw to Gavin Kash to complete the 6-4-3 DP. In the sixth, reliever Josh Sanders ended the inning with a 6-3 DP before a line drive DP in the seventh ended another inning. In the eighth, Sanders erased a lead off single for the Red Raiders seventh double play of the game. The seven double plays were a new school record and tied the all-time NCAA mark. It was the fifth time in NCAA history that a team had turned seven double plays.
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UP NEXT:
With a victory the Red Raiders would face UCF on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. If the Red Raiders fall on Wednesday night they will instead face Cincinnati on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. in an elimination game.
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