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Texas Tech baseball completes 3-game sweep of Kentucky

By Matthew Conner

STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 25: The Texas Tech Red Raiders flag flies outside the stadium before the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys September 25, 2014 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Cowboys defeated the Red Raiders 45-35. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 25: The Texas Tech Red Raiders flag flies outside the stadium before the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys September 25, 2014 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Cowboys defeated the Red Raiders 45-35. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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Sunday, the Texas Tech baseball team completed a 3-game sweep of Kentucky in convincing fashion.

After falling behind by multiple runs in each of its first five games of the 2019 season, the Texas Tech baseball team finally put together a complete performance Sunday.  Tim Tadlock’s team belted out 19 hits in a 19-4 pummeling of Kentucky to complete a three-game sweep.

The Red Raiders scored multiple runs in the first, third, fourth, sixth and seventh innings, including a six-run third that broke the game wide open.  It was the third consecutive game in which Tech had a six-run inning against the Wildcats, who entered the series 3-0.

Right fielder Tanner O’Tremba was the star of the day going 2-5 with seven RBI, including his first homer as a collegiate, a 3-run shot in the third inning that broke a 2-2 tie.  Not to be overlooked, second baseman Brian Klein went 4-7 with four RBI while scoring twice.  For the weekend, the junior went 7-15 with five RBI.

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But while the offensive outburst will garner most of the headlines, the most important development was the performance of freshman lefty Mason Montgomery.  Making just his second collegiate start, the Leander, Texas native became the first Tech starter to pick up a win this season.

The 2018 draft pick of the Chicago White Sox tossed five innings of two-run baseball striking out five while walking two.  It was arguably the best start of the season for a Red Raider starter as the rotation has struggled early in the season.

If there is any negative from Montgomery’s outing, it would be the four batters he hit.  Multiple times during his start, Montgomery was observed looking down at his left hand making it seem like he was experiencing some sort of discomfort and possibly explaining why some pitches may have got away from him.

Four receivers combined to allow just two more runs over the final four innings, which was more than enough for one of the best lineups in the nation.  On the weekend, Tech plated 36 runs and belted out 40 hits including eleven extra-baggers.

After being held to four runs on opening day, Tech is averaging 10.8 per game in the last five.  Overall, the team is hitting .319 and boasts eight players with a batting average over .300.

And on Sunday, plenty of Red Raiders had an opportunity to pad their hitting stats.  Six players collected multiple hits as only one player in the starting lineup went hitless.

The prolific offense is helping cover for a pitching staff that is still trying to round into form, especially when it comes to the starting rotation.  The Red Raiders have a team ERA of 5.71 and have given up 18 walks in 54 innings while beaning 14 batters.

Next. Neuse's grand slam lifts Tech over Kentucky. dark

Tech returns to Dan Law Field Tuesday at home to take on another offensively-gifted team, New Mexico State at 2 p.m.  That precedes a trip to Frisco, TX to take on Nebraska, Mississippi State and Sam Houston State in the Frisco College Baseball Classic at Dr. Pepper Ballpark, home of the Frisco Roughriders.

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