Red Raider Hardball | New Mexico St. vs. Texas Tech

I may not always get to the mid-week games, but I'll almost assuredly get to the weekend games and have something for a discussion. The official site has your official preview (via Texas Tech) along with game notes (via Texas Tech). The LAJ writes that the Red Raiders hope to keep the momentum going after thumping New Mexico earlier this week, 9-3 (via LAJ and if you want to check out the results of that game, via Texas Tech). Head coach Tim Tadlock says that he is looking forward to this weekend:

"We’re really looking forward to this weekend," head coach Tim Tadlock said. "We know what we want to do and that’s giving guys the proper rest from last week. It’s important to come out every day no matter what you’re doing and have a purpose about what you’re doing. The guys have done that for the most part so far."

OUTFIELD: LF: Anthony Lyons | CF: Devon Conley | RF: Adam Kirsch
INFIELD: 3B: Jake Barrios | SS: Ryan Long | 2B: Bryant Burleson | 1B Eric Gutierrez | C: Hunter Redman | DH: Matt Broadbent

Game 1: Thursday, March 6th @ 6:30 pm
Texas Tech Starting Pitcher: RHP Corey Taylor
New Mexico St. Starting Pitcher: LHP Christopher Bradley
Final Score & Box Score: New Mexico St. 3, Texas Tech 5 - Recap - Box Score - LAJ

Just a fantastic start from Corey Taylor, going 5 innings, allowing only 2 hits, walking none and striking out 6.  The only hiccup by the bullpen was a two run home run allowed in the 9th inning by sophomore Justin Bethard, it was otherwise fantastic as Jonny Drozd, Ryan Moseley and Cameron Smith.  The offense only managed 4 hits all game, but they were big hits, in particular Ryan Long, who drove in 3 in the 8th inning, clearing the bases on a double.  That Ryan Long is pretty good.

Game 2: Friday, March 7th @ 6:30 pm
Texas Tech Starting Pitcher: RHP Dominic Moreno
New Mexico St. Starting Pitcher: RHP Billy Conard
Final Score & Box Score: New Mexico St. 2, Texas Tech 15 - Recap - Box Score - LAJ

Dominic Moreno gets his first win of the year and pitches with relative ease as the offense finally exploded with 15 runs on 18 hits, 7 of those runs coming in the 5th inning to completely blow up this game. Moreno goes 5 innings, giving up just 1 run, walking 4, and striking out 5. Johnathan Tripp pitches well in relief, going 3 innings, giving up just 1 run with no walks and 2 stikeouts. I suppose it would be easier to tell you who didn't do well. Texas Tech had multiple hit games from a handful of players, but Jake Barrios was 4 for 5 with 4 RBI. One of those hits was a triple and Texas Tech had 5 triples in the game, something that hasn't happened since 1975. Mason Randolph was also 2 for 4 with 4 RBI and one of those triples along with Eric Gutierrez, who was 3 for 5 with an RBI. Just an outstanding game all the way around. Texas Tech moves to 12-3 on the season. Here's head coach Tim Tadlock on the getting ready for Saturday's game:

"It means you have to go get some rest and come back and be ready to play tomorrow. They’re confident guys but we also understand that it’s baseball. It’s a new game tomorrow and you’ve got to be ready to play."

Game 3: Saturday, March 8th @ 2:00 pm
Texas Tech Starting Pitcher: LHP Chris Sadberry
New Mexico St. Starting Pitcher: LHP Robert Kraft
Final Score & Box Score: Recap - Box Score - LAJ

1B Eric Gutierrez tied the game in the bottom of the 9th inning with a solo home run to force extra innings and in teh 12th inning, Alec Humphreys tripled and Devon Conley brought him home on a sacrifice fly to win the game for Texas Tech.

What a terrific team effort, starting with Chris Sadberry, who pitched 5 innings, giving up 2 runs on 7 hits, walking none and striking out 5. Cameron Smith allowed 5 runs after replacing Sadberry, walking 3 and was replaced after just 1 out. After that, it was a terrific effort from Ryan Moseley, who went 5.2 innings on 5 hits, giving up no runs, walking 1 and striking out 3 and Dalton Brown gets the in in the 12th inning getting just 1 out. Offensively, Gutierrez was 2-4 with 2 RBI and Humphreys was 3-5 with 2 RBI. Tyler Floyd got the start at catcher and went 2-4 with an RBI.

Game 4: Sunday, March 9th @ 12:00 pm
Texas Tech Starting Pitcher: RHP Matt Withrow
New Mexico St. Starting Pitcher: RHP Kyle Kilgore
Final Score & Box Score: Recap - Box Score - LAJ

It was a combined pitching effort from Matt Withrow, Jonny Drozd and Ty Damron, who all pitched 3 innings, with Withrow giving up the only 3 runs in the game. Drozd gets the win and Damron earns the save. Eric Gutierrez gets his 2 home run of the series and was 2-3 for the day driving in 2. Alec Humphreys was 3-5 with 2 RBI and Bryan Burleson got back on track, going 3-5 with 5 RBI.

Don't look now, but Texas Tech has won 6 in a row, going back to beating Rice in Houston last weekend.