Tech Ends UT’s 6-Game Winning Streak – Scrap in the Forecast

It was a crisp 75 degrees Friday night in Austin, Texas, but it felt like it was about 100 degrees between Texas Baseball and Texas Tech on Friday night.

The result was Texas Tech ending the Longhorns’ six-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory in front of a packed crowd at Disch-Falk Field in Austin.

And, the aftermath saw Texas players jawing with the Red Raiders during a demonstrative celebration on the Horns’ home field. This was just Friday night kicking off a three-game series.

The weekend forecast calls for a little more feistiness in Game 2 and 3 in the first Big 12 weekend series of the year.

Texas was definitely not in the mood to taste defeat after winning six straight games and beating Texas A&M on Tuesday night. But, hitting let them down on Friday night.

Texas Could Not Cash In Late Inning Chances vs. Texas Tech

The Longhorns had their chances to at least tie the game in the last two innings, but they could find a clutch hit with a man 90 feet away from the plate.

In the bottom of the eighth, Tate Shaw led off the inning with a hit by pitch. He advanced around to third on a sac bunt and stolen base, but Kacy Clemens just missed a game-tying hit down the left field line. After the foul ball, Clemens smashed a groundball to second base to end the inning.

In the bottom of the ninth, Bret Boswell walked with one out. Pinch runner Tyler Rand then took second base on what appeared to be ball four to Ryan Reynolds, but the inconsistent home plate umpire rang up Reynolds. The throw down to second was wild, allowing Boswell to advance to third base on the play while Reynolds argued with the ump.

A walk to Kody Clemens put runners at the corner with two outs. Back-up catcher Michael McCann then struck out looking to end the game. Tech pitcher John McMillon completely missed his location on the final pitch, but it drifted back over the strike zone for a called third strike.

Tech catcher Michael Berglund went full celebration mode, which irritated the Longhorns who watched him over-celebrate every strikeout in the late innings. The saying would be “act like you’ve been there before,” but Berglund is a freshman who was playing in his first Big 12 game. So, he actually had never been in this situation.

Texas Baseball Unable To Put Together Hits in Big 12 Opener

Texas’ only run of the game was a solo home run by Tate Shaw in the third inning. This followed Tech getting on the board first with a solo homer in the top of the third.

Texas only managed two hits in the entire game: Shaw’s home run and a lead-off single by David Hamilton in the bottom of the sixth. But, Hamilton was caught stealing second base, ending the threat before it got started.

Tech immediately capitalized in the top of the seventh when they put together a Hit By Pitch and hit-and-run double for the decisive second run of the game.

It was an unfortunate way for Nolan Kingham to suffer the loss starting on Friday night. Texas’ regular Friday Night Starter, Morgan Cooper, will start Saturday afternoon.

Next: Roger Clemens Wants to Help Texas Sports Turnaround

Texas is now 13-7 on the season and 0-1 in Big 12 play. Meanwhile, #6 Texas Tech is now 15-4 and 1-0 in the Big 12.