LUBBOCK, Texas – No. 19-ranked Texas Tech scored eight unanswered runs as the Red Raiders broke open a tied game en route to a 10-3 victory against the No. 24-ranked University of Michigan baseball team on Friday (March 22) at Dan Law Field.
Texas Tech out-hit Michigan, 14-8, with six extra-base hits on a blustery day at the ballpark. Michigan’s eight hits came from seven different players with sophomore Jack Blomgren collecting two hits on the day.
Texas Tech (14-5) scratched for single runs in the first and the third before U-M chipped away to tie things in the fifth. In the fourth inning, junior Jordan Brewer singled to lead off, stole second and went to third on a throwing error. Senior Blake Nelson then lined a sacrifice fly to right for the Wolverines’ first run of the game. In the fifth, Senior Ako Thomas led off with a double down the left-field line, went to third on a wild pitch. Thomas scored on a single to left by Blomgren, who advanced to second on a sacrifice fly but a nifty play at third base by Tech’s third basemen left him stranded.
The Red Raiders reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the sixth as more fielding woes plagued the Wolverines. A trio of bloop singles were compounded by two throwing errors and a walk as the Red Raiders took a 5-2 lead and chased junior right-hander Karl Kauffmann from the game, eventually scoring five times in the frame for a 7-2 lead.
In the seventh, and working deep into the U-M bullpen, Texas Tech increased its lead to 10-2 to cap its eight straight runs.
Sophomore Jesse Franklin ended that run with a solo blast high over the left-field wall in the eighth, his second round-tripper of the series and fourth of the season.
Michigan loaded the bases in the ninth but another nice defensive play from the Red Raiders ended the game as first baseman Cameran Warren dove to snag a drive off the bat of sophomore Jordan Nwogu along the first-base line. The play ended a solid game for Warren who also had three hits, including a double.
The Wolverines and Red Raiders will conclude their three-game series on Saturday with a 2 p.m. CDT contest before Michigan ends its Texas trip with a 6:30 p.m. CDT neutral-site game against Stetson at Texas Tech’s Dan Law Field.