TEXAS TECH USES 6-RUN RALLY IN 9TH TO TAKE LAS VEGAS CLASSIC OPENER
Game 1: Texas Tech vs Illinois
The Texas Tech Red Raiders (2-5) pull off a 9th inning rally to defeat the Illinois Fighting Illini (5-3) 10-6 in what was an entertaining back-and-forth affair.
In a tie game through 7 and a half innings, Red Raider’s left fielder Logan Hughes dropped a routine fly ball to give the Illini an improbable lead going into the 9th inning and seemed to be a sign of a frustrating opening loss for Texas Tech.
However, It didn’t take long for the Red Raiders to respond back as right fielder Damian Bravo connected on a seismic game-tying home run to dead center field to quickly turn the momentum back in Texas Tech’s favor.
“Really good at-bat from Bravo, got a pitch in the middle of the plate and obviously [it’s] not every day that you can run the ball out of the ballpark in the top of the 9th,” said Texas Tech head coach Tim Tadlock. “There was definitely intent on picking their teammate up and that’s what the game’s about.”
That was just the beginning for the Red Raider’s game-breaking 9th, as they added five more runs off a Robin Villeneuve RBI double, TJ Pompey RBI single, and a Kyeler Thompson 2-RBI single to put the game out of reach.
Villeneuve’s 9th inning double was one of three on the day, finishing his day going 3-4 with 3 doubles, an RBI, and a walk.
For the Fighting Illini, they got contributions from leadoff hitter Cameron Chee-Aloy, who finished the day 1-4 with 2 runs scored and 2 stolen bases.
Relief pitcher Jake Swartz provided the Illini with 4 innings of 1-run ball in relief of starter Tyler Schmitt, who finished his start with 4 innings allowing 3 earned runs off 7 hits.
TEXAS SURVIVES WASHINGTON RALLY AFTER EARLY PITCHERS DUEL
Game 2: Washington vs Texas
The Texas Longhorns (7-1) defeat the Washington Huskies (3-7) 10-9 in Friday’s night cap as both teams display late offensive surges.
The early innings of this game were dominated by starting pitchers, as Texas left-handed starter Jackson Spencer filled up the stat sheet, completing 6 innings only allowing 1 run off 4 hits. Washington starter Max Burns was just as dominant early, using his heavy slider to punch out 8 Longhorns across 5.1 innings.
The Longhorns wouldn’t go quiet for long, as shortstop Jalin Flores tallied a multi-homer game to give the offense a spark in an otherwise lackluster early offensive display.
The 6th inning is where the Longhorns made their surge, with first baseman Kimble Schuessler depositing a 2-RBI single into right field, followed by freshman DH Cole Chamberlain’s first collegiate hit being a 2-RBI single of his own to make it 6-1 Longhorns.
After catcher Rylan Galvin’s 3-run homer made the score 9-1, the Huskies would go into comeback mode.
In the top of the 7th, 9 of the Huskies first 10 batters reached base resulting in a breathtaking rally, including a grand slam from AJ Guerrero.
The Longhorns would eventually put the game away, with relievers Andre Duplantier II and Max Grubbs finishing the final 2 innings strong to close it out for the Longhorns.
All four teams return tomorrow with a newly minted Big-Ten matchup between Washington and Illinois at 12, followed by an in-state rivalry between Texas and Texas Tech finishing out a loaded Saturday slate of baseball.
Comments