The No. 8 Texas Tech baseball team defeated No. 24 Dallas Baptist, 3-2, on Saturday in front of 4,567 fans, which was the second sellout crowd of the postseason, at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
After both teams went scoreless in first inning, the Red Raiders took an early 2-0 lead as senior Cameron Warren hit a two-run shot over the left-field wall after junior Josh Jung landed on base with a single in the second inning.
“I just got a breaking ball middle of the plate first pitch, “ Warren said. “I was able to get it elevated and get out of the ball park.”
Next up freshman Cole Stillwell and sophomore Kurt Wilson were walked soon after sophomore Parker Kelly got on base with a fielder’s choice hit, putting runners in scoring position. A hit to left field from Braxton Fulford was able to send Stilwell home to extend Tech’s lead to 3-0.
Tech’s defense was able to keep Dallas Baptist in check until the bottom of the fifth when Herbert Iser started off the inning with a double of the wall. Then a hit from to left by Andres Sosa moved Iser to third causing the Patriots to get on the board and cut Tech’s to 3-1. Dallas Baptist started to gain momentum as another run came on board on a sac fly from Augie Isaacson sent Iser home to bring the score to 3-2.
Junior RHP Taylor Floyd came in to relieve starting pitcher junior RHP Caleb Kilian after two runs were given up in the fifth inning. Kilian pitched in 4.2 innings and struck five batters out while giving up seven hits, two runs and one walk in his time on the mound.
Floyd was able to get Tech out of a jam in the fifth as the bases were loaded. The Patriots got on a roll again and put themselves in scoring position as they had a runner on third base with one out. Floyd then struck out the next batter and Warren earned an unassisted out at first to end the sixth inning. Floyd continued with a strong pitching performance at the mound in the seventh inning as he struck two batters out and force a fly out, keeping the Patriots off the score board.
“He is a guy that loves pitching in the grease,” head coach Tim Tadlock said. “Really I think he thrives on it. He was as good in the ninth as he was in the fifth, you could probably say. He’s got really good stuff. I guess if any of us had really good stuff, we would like pitching then too, so.”
Tech was not able to get an insurance run in the ninth as, Kelly was left stranded on third, but Floyd and Tech’s defense held strong to secure the victory as Floyd struck out the final two batters of the game and finished with a no hitter in 4.1 innings.
The Red Raiders advance to the Lubbock Regional championship game at 8 p.m. on Sunday where they will play the winner of the Dallas Baptist and Florida game.
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