Texas Tech drops series opener to BYU, 8-5

LUBBOCK, Texas – Despite a two-run home run from right fielder Austin Green and a pair of hits from Drew Woodcox, the Texas Tech Baseball team fell to BYU, 8-5 Thursday night in the opening game of a weekend Big 12 series at Rip Griffin Park at Dan Law Field.

In the loss, Texas Tech (15-7, 2-5 Big 12) struck out 14 batters, as each of the four Red Raiders pitchers recorded at least one punchout.

The big blow in the game was a third inning grand slam from BYUs (11-8, 4-3 Big 12) Kuhio Aloy who deposited an 0-1 offering from Mac Heuer over the left-centerfield wall. The blast gave BYU a 5-1 and occurred after a crucial error erased a potential 4-6-3 double play ball.

Heuer, who started a series opener for the first time in his career, allowed five runs (four earned) and five hits. The righty walked just one and struck out a career-best eight.

At the plate, the Red Raiders got three RBIs from Green and an RBI each from Woodcox and freshman Landon Stripling.

BYU struck first in the series opener using a one-out double and two-out single to take a 1-0 lead.

After a leadoff double from Woodcox put the tying run in scoring position, Stripling dunked a single down the left field line that tied the game at one-all.

In the top of the third, BYU loaded the bases with one out for Aloy using a lead-off walk, the error from TJ Pompey and a hit-by-pitch. The Cougars ultimately pulled ahead 5-1 on the grand slam from Aloy.

Tech clawed to within 5-3 on an RBI single from Woodcox in the fourth and a sac-fly from Green in the sixth, but BYU loaded the bases once again in the seventh and got an RBI single from Collin Rueter to go in front 6-3.

After a strikeout brought the Red Raiders to within an out of escaping the inning, a hit-by-pitch allowed the Cougars to take a 7-3 lead.

The game remained 7-3 until the home half of the eighth, when Tech used a pinch-hit double from Damian Bravo and the two-run home run down the line from Green to pull to within 7-5.

In the top of the ninth, BYU added a key second insurance run when Reueter homered to right-center. BYU ultimately retired the Red Raiders in order in the ninth to seal the victory.

UP NEXT:
The Red Raiders will look to even the series at one game all on Friday night. First pitch from Rip Griffin Park is set for 6:30 p.m.

–TECH–

Release Provided By Andrew Stern Texas Tech Athletics