No. 16 Texas Tech Run-Rules No. 18 Baylor for Series Win

LUBBOCK, Texas – A combined 10 RBI from senior Cameron Warren and sophomore Dylan Neuse led No. 16 Texas Tech baseball to a commanding 13-3 victory in seven innings over No. 18 Baylor to take the series Saturday afternoon in front of a sold out crowd at Rip Griffin Park.

Tech starter Caleb Kilian (6-2) commanded the game from the opening pitch, recording his sixth straight win in as many outings. He struck out four through the first two frames and allowed his only two runs in 6.0 innings of work on a two-run homer in the third.

Warren and Neuse led a fierce offensive attack by the Red Raiders (25-13, 8-7) that featured four home runs by three different individuals, including a grand slam and a walk-off home run from Neuse. The walk-off win was Tech’s second in two days against the Big 12-leading Bears, and its third of the season.

Tech jumped all over the Bears early with a four spot in the first followed by five more in the second. Junior Brian Klein got the scoring started with an RBI single to score sophomore Gabe Holt, who led off the bottom of the first with a double. Warren soon connected on his team-leading ninth home run of the year to put Tech up 4-0.

The second inning was just as explosive at the plate resulting in five runs and five hits including a grand slam home run by Neuse, his second of the season.  The trend continued throughout the game with eight of the nine batters recording hits including multi-hit games from Holt, Neuse, Warren and sophomore Braxton Fulford.

Tech closed it out in the bottom of the seventh with a solo dinger from Fulford, who went 3-for-3 on the day with a walk. Holt followed with a single to setup Neuse’s walk-off shot to left that pushed Tech to a 10-run lead and ended the game.

The Bears (26-12, 9-5) tallied two runs in the third, but were unable to find an answer for Kilian’s strong performance. Six days after throwing a complete-game, two-hit shutout at West Virginia, Kilian struck out five while scattering eight hits. The junior right-hander made it consecutive games and 15 total innings since he has allowed a walk. Junior Dane Haveman recorded one inning of relief allowing one run before the game ended in the bottom of the seventh

Sophomore Gabe Holt scored three times as he went 3-for-5 with a double. Junior Josh Jung, who made his fifth straight start at shortstop, went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run.

The Red Raiders will continue their 10-game home stand with five more at home this week, opening a two-game series against New Mexico (18-21, 7-11 MWC) on Tuesday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m. at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.

–TECH–

Ty Parker