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After going 0-3 at the College Baseball Showdown, Texas Tech reminded its doubters of this roster’s superior talent after sweeping Houston Baptist this weekend by a combined score of 37-6.
Tech played advertised this weekend, sweeping Houston Baptist and looking elite in the process. Brandon Birdsell, Patrick Monteverde, and Mason Montgomery all earned wins as the starters were absolutely dealing all weekend, and the relievers out of the pen were composed and as a whole never gave up more than two runs in an inning. Tech used nine pitchers this weekend in total including the three starters and relievers.
Monteverde had another outstanding outing on Saturday as his final line was 7 IP 2 H 0 R 9 K on 79 pitches. Birdsell got his first win of the year on Friday, as the sophomore flamethrower from San Jacinto Junior College finished with a line of 4 1⁄3 IP 5 H 3 R 2 K on 53 pitches. On Sunday, Montgomery finished off the sweep with a line of 5 IP 2 H 1 R 5 K on 80 pitches. The platoon of relievers included Brendan Girton, Connor Queen, Levi Wells, and Ryan Sublette among others.
The bats were alive and well this weekend and if I said there was some anger in those swings after opening weekend, I don’t think I’d be mistaken. Tech exploded for 37 runs this with 18 on Friday, 8 on Saturday, and 11 on Sunday.
Nate Rombach led the Red Raiders in going 6-for-10 with two home runs and seven RBIs in just 2 games. He leads Texas Tech with a .421 batting average, three home runs and nine RBIs on the season. Dylan Neuse went 2-for-10 in the series, however, he went 2-for-4 with a triple, three RBIs and two runs on Sunday and started looking like the Dylan Neuse of years’ past and the player who was voted as preseason Big 12 Player of the Year. Tech finished with 17 extra-base hits in the series including seven home runs, one triple, and nine doubles. Over the first two weekends, I find the stat that I’m looking at the most is LOB (runners left on base), and Tech had 20 over three games. This could use some work but it is down from the opening weekend series in Arlington so its trending in a positive direction.
If anyone had any doubt about this squad after opening weekend I think the talk has quieted a bit after this weekend. Houston Baptist isn’t a ranked squad, however, they’re no slouch.
Tech looks next to a mid week two-game series against the Texas Southern Tigers. Texas Southern is 0-7 on the year, getting swept by Houston and Incarnate Word before dropping a midweek game last week to TCU in Fort Worth.
Texas Tech will send Micah Dallas to the mound on Tuesday afternoon and will send freshman Chase Hampton to the bump Wednesday to face TSU.
The Tigers are led in batting by INF Nic Garza who through seven games is hitting .400. Garza is one of two tigers hitting over .300 with OF Tyson Thompson being the other at .357.
On the mound, Kamron Fields leads the Tigers with a 5.40 ERA and an 0-2 record in 10 innings of work this season.
It was great to have Texas Tech Baseball back in Lubbock at Dan Law Field this weekend and if you missed those games, you don’t have to wait long for another chance to catch the Red Raiders in action as they host Texas Southern at 3 p.m. on Tuesday and 1 p.m. on Wednesday of this week at Dan Law Field.
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