The No. 8 Texas Tech baseball team defeated No. 9 Oklahoma State in the third game of the Lubbock Super Regionals, 8-6, earning a bid to the College World Series on Sunday at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
Tonight’s contest had 4,782 fans in attendance for game three, making it the ninth-most fans to attend a Tech baseball game in school history. The game three-game overall attendance also made it the second-most fans in school history to attend a three-game series as 14,347 fans showed up to pack the Law this weekend.
The game started off with a hit to the right field by Christian Funk for a single. Funk then stole second for his first stolen base of the season but the Cowboys were unable to capitalize with a runner in scoring position.
In the 2nd inning Trevor Boone hit a home run over the left-field wall to give Oklahoma State an early 1-0 lead in the second inning. The home run by Boone was the first homer that sophomore RHP Bryce Bonnin has given up this season. Bonnin was able to strike out his third and fourth batters in the second inning but had a high pitch count of 44 as the inning came to an end.
Bonnin earned another strikeout in the top of the third inning as junior Brian Klein fielded a grounder and started a double play to end the inning. The Red Raiders started the bottom of the inning on fire with two-straight doubles down the left-field line by freshman Tanner O’Tremba and sophomore Braxton Fulford. Fulford’s double sent O’Tremba home to tie the game, 1-1. Sophomore Dylan Neuse continued Tech’s momentum as he doubled to center field but was thrown out at third base. The hit sent Fulford home, giving the Red Raiders a 2-1 lead.
Jung opened the bottom of the fourth inning with a shot over the right-center wall to grow Tech’s lead, 3-1. The home run marked Jung’s 13th of the season.
Oklahoma State fought back in the fifth inning as Hueston Morrill doubled to left center. Funk followed with a double to right field, sending Morrill home to cut Tech’s lead 3-2. After giving up the run, junior RHP John McMillon came in to relieve Bonnin after he pitched 4.1 innings and earned six strikeouts.
Funk advanced to third as McMillon threw a wild pitch to his first batter of the day. Colin Simpson then sent Funk home to tie the game, 3-3, with a sac fly to right field.
The Lubbock native, Fulford got the Red Raider fans rowdy as he hit a home run off the right-center wall, giving Tech the 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Cade Cabbiness answered back with a home run of his own as he sent one over the right-field wall, evening the score, 4-4, in the top of the seventh inning.
The Cowboys took a 6-4 lead in the eighth inning as Colin Simpson hit a solo homer. McMillon then walked Andrew Navigato. After a strikeout, Navigato stole second and a throwing error by Fulford moved him to third. Navigato then made his way home off of a sac fly, giving the Cowboys a two-run lead.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Jung showed how clutch he can be in key moments as he hit his second home run of the game, cutting Oklahoma State’s lead, 6-5. Warren drew a walk to get on base and Tech sent freshman speedster Max Marusak to pinch run. Marusak stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch thrown to sophomore Cody Masters. Masters then drew a walk and with two runners on base, sophomore Kurt Wilson hit a three-run bomb deep over the right-center wall to give the Red Raiders a late 8-6 lead. Before this homer he had zero hits in the Super Regionals.
In the ninth Tech had another pitching change as junior LHP Dane Haveman came in to close the game out for Tech. McMillon struck six batters out in his 3.2 innings pitched.
The top of the ninth inning started with a Haveman strikeout and foul ball caught by sophomore Parker Kelly. Soon after Haveman struck out Simpson for the final out of the game giving Tech a spot in the College World Series.
Tech will continue its postseason run in the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska from June 15-26 for a shot at a national championship.
Loading ...