Texas Tech baseball: Red Raiders take two of three games in Round Rock

The Red Raider pitching staff continues to live up to the preseason billing

All of the preseason talk around this team centered around the amazing depth on the mound that Tadlock was expected to have at his disposal.  Thus far, that hype has proven to be valid.

Consider that after Tennessee got three runs in the first inning on Friday, Tech allowed just seven runs over the next 26 innings.  That’s rather impressive given that college baseball is known as an offensive game given the metal bats.

Most impressive was the work of the bullpen.  That group combined for 14 innings while surrendering just two runs.  In the last two games, the bullpen was not touched for a single run.

What’s interesting is that last year’s Friday night starter (the college baseball version of the staff ace), Micah Dallas, has apparently transitioned into the role of the lock-down long man out of the pen.  That’s the role that Taylor Floyd filled so well for Tadlock last year and one that is often overlooked by fans though given how often college starters get roughed up, it is a job of critical importance.

With four scoreless innings to close out Stanford on Saturday, Dallas picked up his second save of the year.  In his only other appearance of the season thus far, he earned a three-inning save while not allowing a run in the season opener against Houston Baptist.

As a true freshman last year, he started 13 of the 19 games he appeared in.  He finished with a 7-2 record and a 4.03 ERA leading us all to assume that he would step back into the rotation this season but so far, he’s been Tadlock’s long-man and he could be a crucial weapon as the season progresses because middle and long relief is an area where many college teams struggle.

For the year, Tech’s pen has been lights out even with last year’s top high-leverage arm, John McMillon, throwing just 2.1 innings so far and another key piece from a year ago, Connor Queen yet to appear in a game.  We focus a ton on the starting rotation but don’t overlook what this bullpen has the potential to be because it might be the type that could carry Tech to a National Title.