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Texas Tech baseball can’t hold 3-run lead in loss to Longhorns

By Matthew Conner

MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 22: A baseball glove sits on the field before the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on April 22, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 22: A baseball glove sits on the field before the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on April 22, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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Friday night, the Texas Tech baseball team dropped the first of three games against the Longhorns in Austin despite jumping out to a 3-0 lead.

For the Texas Tech baseball team, Big 12 play got off to a disappointing start Friday night in Austin.  And in a somewhat unexpected turn of events, it was the potent Texas Tech offense that failed the nation’s No. 7 team in a 4-3 loss to the Longhorns.

After jumping out to a 3-0 lead thanks a a 3-run third inning, the Red Raiders were held scoreless for the final six innings of the game collecting just two hits along the way.  In fact, the Longhorn bullpen did not allow a baserunner in four innings of relief after Texas ace Bryce Elder labored through five innings.

Meanwhile, Texas was able to get to the Red Raider bullpen in the bottom of the sixth inning.  Texas Tech starter Erikson Lanning was strong allowing only one run on three hits in five innings of work but the UT offense got to work as soon as he departed the game

The Horns plated three runs off of Red Raider lefty reliever Dane Haveman, who took the loss.  And unfortunately for Haveman, only one of those runs was earned.

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After the Horns loaded the bases with one out, Zach Zubia drove home a run on a sacrifice fly.  On the play, a throwing error by Red Raider right fielder Gabe Holt allowed the baserunners to advance to second and third, which would prove costly.

That’s because a fielding error by All-American third baseman Josh Jung allowed two more runs to score giving the Horns their final margin of victory.  It was the third fielding error this season for the player generally considered to be the best fielding third baseman in the Big 12, if not the nation.

But the Red Raider offense had opportunities to extend their lead early in the game.  With Elder, who entered the game with an ERA below 2.00, struggling early, Tech left runners on base in each of its first five at-bats.  In all, Tech left seven runners on base including four by freshman left fielder Tanner O’Tremba who went 0-4.

On the positive side, first baseman Cam Warren continued his hot streak with the bat.  The reigning Big 12 player of the week went 3-4 with two RBI.  On the season, he is hitting .360 with five homers and 23 RBI.  What’s more, he’s driven in a run in five-consecutive games amassing 15 RBI during that time.

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Hopefully the rest of his teammates will follow suit in game two Saturday afternoon.  After seeing the program’s five-game winning streak in Austin snapped, the Red Raiders will turn to Caleb Killian on the mound.  He will be looking to get his season back on track after struggling out of the gates to a tune of an 0-2 record with a 9.19 ERA.  He will be opposed by Blair Henley who is 2-0 on the season with a 4.79 ERA.  The game can be seen on the Longhorn Network.

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