Baseball season is back, and Tech came out with a bang after a slow start. With a crowd of over 4,000 just like they had last year on opening day, it was a beautiful day in Lubbock for a baseball game. The field was replaced over the offseason and the old video board from The Jones was installed at Rip Griffin. Great crowd, great stadium, Opening Day. What else could you ask for?
Tech started the game off looking like it was their season opener. Moseley struggled with the command of his pitches, there was a call for catchers interference, and the teams traded a run in the first inning. As the game went along, you could see the players start to settle down and play better. The offense today was powered by outfielder Stephen "The Bull" Smith as he went 4-5 on the day, with 3 doubles and 3 RBI's. The 4th inning scored 4 runs for Tech on 5 hits, and another 4 came across the plate in the 7th on just 2 hits. 12 runs would be scored without any shots out of the park.
Moseley would pitch 5 innings, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits. Both Cory Raley and Tanner Gardner would have 3 hits, and Gute would add 2 more. 11 Tech runners were stranded, which is something to keep an eye on. Last year too many good scoring chances were blown when we just couldn't get runners across the plate who were in scoring position. Continuing from the past 2 years was the infield defense, as 5 double plays were turned.
: A four-run burst in the fourth inning has the Red Raiders ahead, 6-3! #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/OUrVSow08p
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) February 19, 2016
A good win to start the season, with the first pitch of game 2 set for Saturday at 12pm. There will be a doubleheader, with game 3 currently scheduled for 4pm. The game today was televised on Fox Sports Southwest Plus, but unfortunately the rest of the series will not be televised. Next weekend's series in Houston will be on the MLB Network and the full TV schedule can be found here.
Texas Tech's fifth double play of the game ends it as the Red Raiders defeat Milwaukee, 12-3! #WreckEm https://t.co/PmDmtLMH99
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) February 19, 2016