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Five biggest Texas Tech athletics stories of 2018

By Matthew Conner

AMES, IA - NOVEMBER 19: Head coach Kliff Kingsbury of the Texas Tech Red Raiders looks down during a timeout in play against the Iowa State Cyclones in the first half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on November 19, 2016 in Ames, Iowa. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA - NOVEMBER 19: Head coach Kliff Kingsbury of the Texas Tech Red Raiders looks down during a timeout in play against the Iowa State Cyclones in the first half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on November 19, 2016 in Ames, Iowa. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /
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No. 4: Texas Tech baseball reaches College World Series for third time in five years

The fact that a trip to the College World Series for the Texas Tech baseball team is only the fourth-biggest story of 2018 is a testament to how interesting the past twelve months have been.  Still, what Tim Tadlock’s program accomplished should not be taken for granted.

After winning the Lubbock regional, the No. 9 overall seeded Red Raiders hosted Duke in the super regional round with a trip to Omaha on the line.  Tech took the opening game 6-4 erasing a 3-0 fifth inning deficit against a Blue Devil team that had won 35-straight games when leading after five.

But Duke took game two 11-2 to set up a winner-take-all game three.  Behind homers from Gabe Holt, Michael Davis and Brian Klein, Tech pulled out a 6-2 win to return to Omaha for the third time in program history.

In its first game of the CWS , Tech stunned No. 1 overall seed Florida 6-3 to win only the program’s second game ever in Omaha.  In the win, the Red Raiders handed Florida ace Brady Singer just his second loss of the season.  The SEC pitcher of the year and No. 18 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft had a .255 ERA on the season but gave up five runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings against the potent Tech lineup.

Unfortunately, Tech would drop its next two games (including an elimination game against the Gators) once again falling short of a national title.  Inclement weather that caused numerous delays during the event ultimately hurt the Red Raiders by allowing their opponents in Arkansas and Florida to have extra time to rest pitching staffs that had been taxed prior to facing what was one of the best lineups in the nation.

But the fact that Tech was able to return to the sport’s biggest event despite a host of pitching injuries, including a season-ending elbow injury to ace Stephen Gingery who threw only two innings in 2018, was a testament to the quality of the 2018 Red Raiders.  Thanks to an offense that finished tied for second in the nation in runs averaging 8.13 per game, the Raiders were able to slug their way to a third place Big 12 regular season finish and a spot in the College World Series.

Tim Tadlock has built arguably the best program on campus.  His team will be ranked in the top-5 to begin the 2019 season and is a favorite to return to Omaha.  If it does, it will be the first time that he has led the Red Raiders to the CWS in back-to-back seasons.

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