Texas Tech sweeps Northern Illinois on Friday and Saturday, two double-headers in dominating fashion. Texas Tech’s combined score was 25-4 for the weekend and included three shutout wins.
Texas Tech earned two shut-out wins against Northern Illinois on Friday, 8-0 (box score) in the first game, and then 5-0 (box score) in the second game. Ryan Moseley started the game and was terrific, going 6 innings, including 4 hits, 3 walks adn 3 strikeouts. What was so great was that Moseley threw 60% of his pitches for strikes and he mentioned that he was able to get ahead of hitters and caused a lot of ground ball outs, 14 for the day. Closing out the game was Corey Taylor, who pitched two innings, and sophomore, Sean Thompson, who pitched the final frame, but was not a save situation
True freshman from El Paso, Orlando Garcia, got his first start of the year at third base and went 4 for 4, which included 2 doubles, 2 RBI and scored 2 runs. Eric Gutierrez was 2 for 5, driving in 3 runs, including a bases clearing double in the 8th inning.
In the 5-0 win, Cameron Smith was terrific as well, pitching 5 innings and exhibited terrific control, walking none, striking out three, and throwing 63% of his pitches for strikes. Dominic Moreno was great in long relief as he pitched the final four frames, giving up only 2 hits, walking 2, striking out 7, and also throwing 63% of his pitches for strikes. Left-fielder Tyler Neslony was 2 for 4 on the day, scoring 2 runs and driving in 2. Transfer from Temple College Cory Raley got the start at 2nd base and went 2 for 4 including 3 RBI, all in the first inning.
In games 3 and 4, Texas Tech won both games, 6-4 (box score) and 6-0 (box score).
In the 6-4 win, Texas Tech started Dylan Dusek, who pitched 6 solid innings, giving up just 4 hits, with 4 walks and 3 strikeouts, also inducing 10 groundouts. True freshman Jacob Patterson pitched the next two frames, giving up 2 hits, walking 2 and striking out 5, but up next on the mound was Patrick Mahomes, who didn’t register an out, but gave up 3 runs. It started with a walk, then a hit by pitch, then another walk and that’s when Tadlock pulled Mahomes for Sean Thompson. Thompson then induced a ground-out to third, but then there was a fielding error, along with another hit and things weren’t looking good at all until Corey Taylor earned the final two outs, a fielder’s choice and an unassisted groundout.
SS Tim Proudfoot went 2-4, scoring 2 runs, and C Tyler Flod also went 2-4, including a double. CF Hunter Hargrove, 1B Eric Gutierrez, RF Stephen Smith, 2B Cory Raley and 3B Orlando Garcia all drove in a run, so this wasn’t a game of one guy just crushing the ball.
In the final game, the 6-0 win, Ty Damron got the start, pitching 6 innings, giving up only 4 hits, walking 1 and striking out 4. Junior Dalton Brown pitched the next two frames, walking 2 and allowing 2 hits, but obviously no runs and Parker Mushinski pitched the final frame with no damage.
At the plate, RF Tanner Gardner went 3 for 4, including a home run, scoring 2 runs, and driving in 2. No other player had a multi-hit game, but 1B Eric Gutierrez, SS Tim Proudfoot and C Tyler Floyd all had an RBI. LF Tyler Neslony also hit a solo shot for his only RBI.