A real tough game mid-week game for the Red Raiders where the starting and bullpen pitching just cuold get anyone out, not to mention the 3 errors committed, which led to at least 3 runs, losing to TCU 12-5 (recap and boxscore). Nate Karns (4.2 IP; 5 H; 4 R; 1 ER; 5 BB; 3 SO) got the start and you'll note that he only gave up 1 earned run, but the bullpen was pretty bad yesterday: Robert Kilcrease (1.1 IP; 5 H; 4 ER; 0 BB; 0 SO) and Louis Head (1.2 IP; 5 H; 4 R; 3 ER; 1 BB; 0 SO). At the plate, the Red Raiders managed 5 runs on only 8 hits with Scott Lejeune (1-4; 2 RBI) and Taylor Ashby (2-3; 2 RBI) leading the way.
It's never good to lose, but big-picture, the Red Raiders are still sitting pretty in the Big 12 standings, 7th place, for a program that's struggled to get above .500 for most of the year.
DT's Mike Graham details this weekend's and Monday's games and head coach Dan Spencer said that he likes how AJ Ramos and Chad Bettis give the Red Raiders a chance to win every time the pitch:
"Ramos and Bettis give us good chances to win ballgames and they did it again this weekend," Spencer said. "What (their efforts) should do is rest (the bullpen) so they're all good (for Monday) but that obviously didn't play out."
Chad Bettis earned Big 12 Player of the Week last week for his 154 pitch, 5 hit complete game against Oklahoma on Saturday night (hat-tip Big 12 Hardball):
Chad Bettis, Texas Tech, RHP, So., 6-0, 185, Lubbock, Texas/Monterey
Bettis turned in a career day in the series finale at No. 11 Oklahoma on Sunday. He helped the Red Raiders avoid the series sweep by turning in his first career complete game and firing 154 pitches in the process. Bettis held OU, the Big 12’s leading offense, to season lows in runs (1) and hits (4). The Lubbock, Texas hurler tossed eight shutout innings before allowing his lone run in the bottom of the ninth after he had thrown 130 pitches. Bettis fanned a career-high nine batters and walked four while facing 35 batters. In Big 12 action, he has been a part of all seven Tech wins and improved to 3-0 in league play with four saves.