Texas Tech outlast Oklahoma State in super regional opener

Say it with me....Phewwww (breathe in, breathe out).

Namaste.

Got all the stress out? Good. Because we may have to do this at least one more time.

In what started as a game in which Texas Tech looked like it may cruise to victory, Oklahoma State continued to do what they’ve done all year...battle. If you believed they would do anything else but that, you haven’t been paying attention.

I want to give credit to the offense. With it being a complete team effort, it’s hard to highlight all of it. Cody Masters and Josh Jung crushed huge homers, but the lineup from top to bottom got on base when needed and the base running was absolutely brilliant.

I want to highlight the coaching and pitching today. First off, Micah Dallas was magnificent today. Yes, his stat line will show a few more earned runs than he would like, but if you get that Micah Dallas every time the rest of the way, I don’t know how many teams are going to beat you. Dallas would go on to strike out nine batters in 5 innings. That is absolute money.

Next up, the bullpen. Haveman, Floyd and McMillion were shut down when needed. Sure, OSU made it closer than it needed to be, but I don’t think there was an instance where Oklahoma State had all of the momentum. Simply put, this Tech team had its “back against the wall” several times, yet you never saw an ounce of worry in any of their faces.

On the coaching aspect, Tim Tadlock showed the experience factor he has over Josh Holiday by not making any rash moves that didn’t make sense. He pulled Dallas at the exact right time, he put Haveman, Floyd and McMillion in spots to succeed and he pinched run Marusak at the right time. On the other side of the field, Josh Holiday took out his best outfield arm with two innings to go, and the insurance run was scored on a very weak throw from RF to home plate in the 8th. Holiday also rode his best bullpen arm for his second longest outing of the season, rendering him most likely useless for tomorrows elimination contest.

These little moves make all the difference.

The victory puts Tech at 43 wins on the season, and one win shy of reaching the College World Series for the fourth time in the past six years. The Red Raiders will look to secure one of the 8 spots in Omaha Saturday at 5pm.

Saturday’s contest between the Cowboys and Red Raiders will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU.