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Watch Out, Omaha: Texas Tech Takes Weekend Series From No. 2 TCU

By Walker Berry

Jun 19, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Tim Tadlock and TCU Horned Frogs head coach Jim Schlossnagle shake hands prior to their game in the 2016 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 19, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Tim Tadlock and TCU Horned Frogs head coach Jim Schlossnagle shake hands prior to their game in the 2016 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Texas Tech baseball team hosted a three game series against No. 2 TCU this weekend and came out with two key wins.

Texas Tech baseball has not only proven themselves to the loyal fans of Red Raider Nation, but to the entire nation. The Red Raiders made a resounding statement to the nation by taking two of three games from No. 2 TCU over the weekend.

Entering the series, Tech (34-11) found themselves second to only TCU (31-10) in Big 12 standings. TCU came into Lubbock with a 19-4 record at home, a 3-0 record in neutral sights, but just a 9-6 record when playing outside of Lupton Stadium.

After a tough 4-1 loss on Friday night, Tim Tadlock’s roster found themselves in a position that they haven’t faced much this season, losing a game due to a lack of offense. The next couple of games were a completely different story, however. Saturday afternoon’s 3 P.M. start time was suspended in the 3rd inning with a 2-1 TCU lead due to weather and was resumed Sunday morning for the front side of a double-header.

Tech came out ready to play with an early run in the 4th inning forcing a 2-2 tie following a wild pitch by TCU pitcher, Charles King. With TCU firing back a couple more runs later in the game making it a 4-3 TCU lead in the 6th, Tech needed some of the high power offense to spark. That wish did not take long to be granted thanks to the Freshman middle IF, Brian Klein, who crushed an off speed pitch over the right field line, driving in three crucial runs which resulted in a 6-4 win for the Red Raiders and a chance for a rubber match.

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With Ryan Shetter being penciled in for Game 3 of the series and scheduled to face the 6’8 lengthy TCU ace, Brian Howard, there weren’t many people, if any, who thought the game would go the way it did. Shetter surrendered two early 1st inning runs to the Frogs, but was near perfect the rest the way going 5IP, 6H, 2R, 2ER, 5BB, 6K.

Howard on the other hand, had a day that many TCU pitchers can relate with. Coach Jim Schlossnagle found himself pointing over to his bullpen on five separate occasions, pitching six men total, but there truly was no stopping the dynamic bats from the Red Raider lineup.

Tech opened the home half of the 1st inning with a 2-0 deficit, but it did not take long to make those runs up, plus more, much more. Freshman, Brian Klein, was the beginning run-producer for the Red Raiders which  was followed up by a monstrous two RBI, 2B from Junior, Orlando Garcia.

Entering the second inning with a 3-2 lead, there seemed to be a certain feeling of ease and confidence throughout Rip Griffen ballpark that I have not felt at a sporting event here at Texas Tech. It was almost like everyone in the ballpark, including the players, knew there was no way they were losing this one.

It did not take long to assure that feeling. Freshman, John McMillion was able to crank another one of his absolute moon shots, exiting just left of the scoreboard this time. With HR’s being contributed from Jung, Long, and Berglund the Red Raiders were able to take Game 3 as well as the series with a 21-3 mercy-rule win.

Both coaching staffs, believe heavily in the philosophy that runs matter and averaging 5(+) runs a game is a must in order to stay competitive in such a high-powered offensive conference. TCU ranks 35th in the country in runs with 284 runs in 31 games played, while Tech is sitting at the top of the rankings in OBP, SLG, HR, 2B, and 3B in the Big 12 this season.

Next: How Texas Tech Football Will Replace Jonathan Giles

Sunday afternoon was an unprecedented one for Coach Schlossnagle and his Horned Frogs with TCU not having given up 21 runs in a game in fourteen years. On the flip side, Tech’s 27 run game earlier this week against New Mexico and the 21 runs they added Sunday were enough to tie for the most runs in a week since 2012. Watch out, Omaha.

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