Red Raider Hardball | Texas Tech vs. Texas

OUTFIELD | LF: Zach Davis | CF: Brett Bell | RF: Devon Conley
INFIELD | 3B: Jake Barrios/Alec Humphreys | SS: Tim Proudfoot/Jake Barrios | 2B: Bryant Burleson | 1B Eric Gutierrez | C: Mason Randolph | DH: Jarrard Poteete

It's conference time and that's a good thing. I'm not at all surprised at Texas Tech's record. There are some games lost that they probably should have won, but it took a handful of games for head coach Tim Tadlock to figure out what he had and I think he's pretty settled on what he has now. When you look at the PDF of the game notes, there's a handful of players that have received a majority of the starts and the only real decision that Tadlock makes each game is who starts third and shortstop with Tadlock wanting to work in Alec Humphreys, Jake Barrios and Tim Proudfoot. Other than that, he's pretty much settled on a lineup.

LAJ's George Watson previews the game and talks with Tadlock:

"When it really comes down to it, we want to walk away from the park knowing that we played solid baseball," Tadlock said. "More than anything as a coach, you want to walk away having a great effort and playing the game the right way, and the wins will take care of themselves when you do that."

Game 1 Date and Time: March 15th @ 6:35 pm
Texas Tech Starting Pitcher: RHP Dominic Moreno (1-1, 4.79)
Texas Starting Pitcher: RHP Parker French (3-1, 1.59)
Final Score & Box Score: Texas Tech 1 (13-7, 1-0), Texas 0 (11-6, 0-1) (official site)

How about that. Starter Dominic Moreno gets his second win of the year, goes 7 innings, giving up only 5 hits, 2 strikeouts and no walks, while reliever Jerad McCrummen notches his second save of the year by pitching 2 innings, allowing 2 hits, striking out 3 and walking none. There was really only one offensive star for the game for both teams, DH Jarrad Poteete hit his first home run of the year and his career in the 7th inning to produce the only run for the game. Texas Tech's offense only managed three hits the entire night, but obviously got the one that counted the most.

Game 2 Date and Time: March 16 @ 2:00 pm
Texas Tech Starting Pitcher: RHP Trey Masek (3-0, 0.00)
Texas Starting Pitcher: LHP Dillon Peters (1-1, 2.28)
Final Score & Box Score: Texas Tech 1 (13-8, 1-1), Texas 2 (12-6, 1-1) (official site)

The Longhorns get a walk-off double to win the game in the ninth inning. Trey Masek was fantastic, giving up his first run of the year in the first inning, going 8 innings, walking 4 and striking out 6. Reliever Johnathan Tripp, a true freshman, gave up the run in the ninth inning. The offense was stagnant again, but this is the way that Texas plays ball. Terrific pitching and little offense. The team only managed 5 hits and CF Devon Conley had the team's only RBI. The bats need to wake up.

Game 3 Date and Time: March 17 @ 1:00 pm
Texas Tech Starting Pitcher: RHP Matt Withrow (2-1, 5.40)
Texas Starting Pitcher: RHP Nathan Thornhill (1-1, 2.61)
Final Score & Box Score: Texas Tech 4 (14-8, 2-1), Texas 2 (12-7, 1-2) (official site)

Starter Matt Withrow may not be a starter for much longer and Jonny Drozd is most likely going to fill his spot as a Sunday starter. Withrow only made it 2 innings, giving up both of Texas Tech's runs, 3 hits, 2 walks and 1 strikeout. Drozd gave the team a huge boost with 5.1 innings, 4 hits, no runs, 2 strikeouts and no walks. Jerad McCrummen got his third save of the game with 1.2 innings, 3 strikeouts and 1 walks. 3B Jake Barrios was 2-4 and scored 2 runs. 2B Bryant Burleson, RF Devon Conley and DH Jarrard Poteete all had RBI's. Just a huge series win, the first since 2002 in Austin.