The University of Arizona baseball team (30-13, 13-8 Big 12) fell to Texas Tech University (15-24, 10-11 Big 12) in the team’s away series in Lubbock, Texas, from Saturday, April 26 to Sunday, April 27. Texas Tech had the series opener and closer, as Arizona grabbed its lone win in the second game of the series.
After Friday night’s series opener was postponed due to lightning, the two teams resumed action with an early start to Saturday’s doubleheader.
Texas Tech’s bats were at the ready, as the Red Raiders scored 22 runs over Arizona’s 8 runs. The Wildcats were unable to match Texas Tech’s red-hot batting in the opener and closer, yet limited the Red Raiders to a run in the second game.
Game 1: Texas Tech 12 – Arizona 3
The Wildcats and Red Raiders split a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Rip Griffin Park, with Texas Tech winning the opener 12-3.
In the first game, Arizona briefly held a 3-2 lead after a 2-run RBI double from Brendan Summerhill and a sacrifice fly by Aaron Walton in the third inning.
The Red Raiders tied the game at three in the fourth inning on a solo home run by Logan Hughes and then broke the game open with a series of clutch two-out hits. Robin Villeneuve capped the outburst with a 2-run home run. Texas Tech ended up scoring 10 unanswered runs, winning the game 12-3.
Collin McKinney would open for the Wildcat, pitching the first two innings and allowing two hits and two runs while striking out four.
Game 2: Arizona 2 – Texas Tech 1
In the second game, Arizona flipped the script thanks to a brilliant pitching performance from Owen Kramkowski. The right-hander battled through early trouble but limited Texas Tech to just 1 run which was a solo home run from Villeneuve in the second inning. Kramkowski earned his seventh victory of the season, which ties him for the Big 12 lead in wins.
Arizona’s offense would come to life in the top of the sixth inning when center fielder Walton crushed a game-tying solo home run to right field. Moments later, second baseman Garen Caulfield delivered a go-ahead RBI single to give Arizona a 2-1 lead. Although Texas Tech mounted a late threat, Arizona closer Tony Pluta shut the door with two scoreless innings, earning his Big 12-leading ninth save of the season.
With the game two win, Arizona secured its 30th victory of the season.
Game 3: Texas Tech 9 – Arizona 3
Arizona dropped the series finale 9-3 to Texas Tech on Sunday afternoon. Walton stayed hot at the plate, but Arizona could not overcome Texas Tech’s strong hitting. The series loss marked Arizona’s first Big 12 Conference series defeat in a month since losing to Baylor University at home.
The Red Raiders started strong in the bottom half of the first inning. Texas Tech’s Hughes hit a double, and Damian Bravo followed with an RBI single to give the Red Raiders a 1-0 lead.
The game remained 1-0 until the bottom of the fourth inning. Hughes, who was running on a full-count pitch, scored from first base on a no-out double by Bravo. One pitch later, Antonelli Savattere delivered an RBI single up the middle to plate Bravo, giving Texas Tech a 3-0 advantage.
Arizona responded in the top of the fifth inning, when Walton blasted a 2-run home run to right field, cutting the Texas Tech lead to 3-2.
Texas Tech quickly responded in the bottom of the fifth inning, extending their lead to 4-2 after a sacrifice fly from Kyler Thompson.
Then, Hughes delivered the game’s biggest blow. He crushed a 3-run home run, giving Texas Tech a 7-2 lead.
Texas Tech would later add insurance runs and ultimately win the game 9-3.
Walton finished the game 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, two RBIs and a run scored. White went 3-for-5 with a triple. Tommy Splaine contributed a 2-for-3 day with a run scored. Gunner Geile added a 1-for-4 performance with a double and an RBI.
Smith Bailey was the opener for the Wildcats, allowing 6 runs on eight hits with six strikeouts.
Looking ahead:
The Wildcats return home for a lone appearance against New Mexico State University beginning on Tuesday, April 29, before hosting TCU for a three-game series from Friday, May 2, to Sunday, May 4.
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