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Texas Tech Baseball Falls To Sam Houston; Faces Must-Win Today

By Matthew Conner

Jun 23, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders bench looks over the field after the loss against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at the 2016 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Coastal Carolina defeated Texas Tech 7-5. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders bench looks over the field after the loss against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at the 2016 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Coastal Carolina defeated Texas Tech 7-5. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Texas Tech baseball team fell to Sam Houston 9-8 on Sunday night forcing a winner-take-all game today at Dan Law Field.

No one said that winning a NCAA Regional is easy.  After all, the Texas Tech baseball team has done so only twice in program history.

What’s more, on both occasions (2014 and 2016) the Red Raiders had to go to the final game of the bracket on Monday to advance.  That scenario once again presents itself to Tim Tadlock’s team after its 9-8 loss to Sam Houston on Sunday.

Tech played an uncharistically sloppy game with 3 errors in the field and numerous base running blunders.  Those factors combined with an unexpected lack of clutch hitting and a poor day on the mound to produce one of the worst performances of 2017 for the No. 5 team in the nation.

The Red Raiders and the Bearkats matched solo runs in each of the first two innings but SHSU took control with three runs in the top of the fourth.   A throwing error by Texas Tech shortstop Orlando Garcia allowed the Bearkats’ Hunter Hearn to score from third and the visitors would not trail again.

SHSU’s bats stayed hot after scoring nine runs in a 9-3 win over Arizona to stave off elimination earlier in the day.  They battered the Red Raiders’ pitching staff for nine more runs on 14 hits.  Time after time, the ‘Kats came through with runners in scoring position while the Red Raiders could not do the same, especially in the game’s pivotal moment.

Trailing 6-4 in the bottom of the 7th, Tech loaded the bases with one out and the heart of the order due up.  Garcia struck out looking and catcher Michael Berglund filed out meekly to center field to end the threat and deflate the reinvigorated home fans.

The Red Raider faithful had been kept in check most of the afternoon but were brought to life when the benches cleared with one out in the 7th.  Texas Tech’s Josh Jung was tagged out trying to score from third on a Hunter Hargrove grounder.

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The tag knocked Jung to the turf in a play that looked innocent.  However, Jung took exception to the tag and confronted SHSU third baseman Taylor Beene.  Both benches cleared but the coaches and umpires were able to restore order before any punches were thrown.

The incident was reminiscent of the 2014 regional in Miami when Texas Tech and the Miami Hurricanes exchanged pleasantries down the first base line.  Miami assistant coach Gino DiMare confronted Texas Tech first baseman Eric Gutierrez after he dropped of the baseball next to a Miami runner that had been tagged out and had stumbled to the ground.

Tech assistant Jay-Bob Thomas came to Gutierrez’ defense and the benches emptied.  All three men were ejected from the game.  Tech would lose the game 2-1 in extra innings but prevail the next day to advance to the Super Regional and ultimately the College World Series.

Yesterday’s altercation also seemed to energize the opponent more than it did the Red Raiders.

SHSU would carry their momentum to the plate in their next at bat.  The Bearkats plated five insurance runs in the top of the eighth to put the game out of reach.

The Red Raiders had one final chance to rally but came up a run short in the bottom of the ninth.  After two runs scored on a Brian Klein single, Tech had the tying run at third and the winning run at first.  But Grant Little popped out to end the game leaving the sellout crowd in Lubbock stunned.

Now, Texas Tech faces a do-or-die game this afternoon.  However, the Red Raiders will have the home fans behind them and they have been a dominant team in Lubbock this season.

Yesterday’s loss was just the sixth at home this season.  In addition, Tech has lost just two games in a row only once this year so there is still reason for optimism and confidence among the Texas Tech faithful.

But Sam Houston has now tasted Red Raider blood.  They know they can beat the favorites and they will be a tough out for Tech.

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Texas Tech is undefeated in three elimination games in the regional and super-regional rounds of the NCAA Tournament under Tim Tadlock.  For this magical 2017 season to continue, they will have to move that mark to 4-0.

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