Texas Tech Baseball Beats Florida In College World Series Opener

Sunday night, the Texas Tech baseball team knocked off Florida 6-3 to open the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.

For the first time in program history, the Texas Tech baseball team has opened the College World Series with a win. The Red Raiders knocked off No. 1 national seed and defending national champion Florida 6-3 Sunday night setting the tone for what could be a special two weeks in Omaha.

The win is significant because 34 of the previous 37 national champions have won their opening game in the College World Series. That is something Texas Tech had not been able to do in its two previous trips to the event (2014 and 2016).

But on Sunday night, head coach Tim Tadlock saw his potent lineup get to one of the best pitchers in the game. Facing Brady Singer, the No. 18 overall selection in this year’s MLB draft and the national player of the year in college baseball, Texas Tech scored five times in 6.1 innings becoming just the third team this season to touch the Gator’s ace for at least five runs (though only two of the runs were earned).

Texas Tech’s nine hits matched the most Singer had allowed all season and saddled him with just his second loss. But in an unusual turn of events, a Texas Tech at-bat that ended in an out became the turning point in the game.

In the top of the fifth, with the game tied at 1-1, Red Raider first baseman Cam Warren battled Singer for 14 pitches before being retired on a line out. Though Warren’s at-bat went down as a win for Singer, the struggle to put Warren away took Singer, who had been dominant up to that point, out of his rhythm.

The next three Texas Tech hitters would reach base (one by error) and Tech would plate two runs to take the lead 3-1 on a two RBI single by Gabe Holt. Tech would then add two more runs in the sixth on a Zach Rheams double and a Michael Davis single putting Tech up 5-1.

That would be enough for the Texas Tech bullpen.

The Red Raider’s unconventional pitching strategy, initiated by Tim Tadlock late in the regular season, continued to work to perfection. Senior Dylan Dusek, a reliever for most of the season, once again assumed the role of short-term starter tossing two innings and allowing just a run.

Ryan Shetter took over in the third and was fantastic. In 4.1 innings of work, he surrendered just a run earning the win to move to 6-0 on the season. Ty Harpenau worked the final 2.2 innings to close out the game sending the Red Raiders to the winner’s bracket of the College World Series for the first time in program history.

More from Wreck'Em Red

The win followed a formula that has worked for the Red Raiders throughout the NCAA Tournament. At the plate, the Tech hitters employed a patient approach making Singer work deep into counts and maximizing his work load.

On the mound, Tech’s arms kept the Florida hitters off balance with breaking balls that stayed out of the heart of the strike zone. That combined with another strong defensive performance has Texas Tech primed for a showdown with another SEC power.

Tuesday, Tech will face Arkansas which beat the Red Raiders 5-1 at home earlier this year. Game two of that scheduled two game series was rained out but now Tech has its long-awaited rematch.

A win against the Hogs would allow Texas Tech to rest until Friday and would move the Red Raiders to just one win from the College World Series finals. While it is exciting to think about such possibilities, those goals will wait for another day.

Right now, Red Raider fans everywhere are celebrating the school’s second win in an NCAA Tournament over Florida this spring. In March, the Red Raiders Knocked off Florida in the second round of the NCAA basketball tournament to advance to the Sweet 16.

Now, with another win over the Gators in hand, Texas Tech’s baseball team is looking to emulate the basketball team’s success and advance further than the program ever has. A win Tuesday night would accomplish just that.

Home/Texas Tech Baseball