Orlando Garcia belted a two-run double to break a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning, and Hayden Howard registered five strikeouts over 4.2 innings of relief to lift Texas Tech to a 5-3 victory over Dallas Baptist in Monday’s NCAA Lubbock Regional Championship Game at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
The victory enabled the Red Raiders (44-17) to clinch a spot in next weekend’s NCAA Super Regional round. Texas Tech will play host to East Carolina this weekend in a best-of-three series with a spot to the College World Series on the line. Game dates and game times are scheduled to be announced by the NCAA later this evening.
With the score knotted at 3-3 in the sixth inning, Eric Gutierrez and Michael Davis set the table with a leadoff walk and a single through the right side to put runners on the corners. On the first pitch of the at-bat, Garcia cranked a two-run double into the left centerfield gap to clear the bases and vault Tech to a 5-3 advantage.
It was the second hit on the afternoon for Garcia, who finished 2-for-3 overall with three RBI after connecting on a similar RBI double in the fourth inning. He concluded the regional with a .429 average (6-for-14) en route to earning all-tournament honors.
Garcia was one of three Red Raiders with a multi-hit game, joining Davis (2-for-4) and Stephen Smith (2-for-4). Davis scored all the way from first base on both of Garcia’s doubles.
Howard, the NCAA Lubbock Regional MVP, shut the door on the Patriots (44-19) best scoring opportunity in the seventh inning. With two runners on, he picked off Dallas Baptist’s Tim Millard from first base for the final out of the frame.
Howard (9-3) sat down six-straight Patriots to close out the victory as he earned the win after allowing just two runs over 4.2 innings – both of which that came from a Austin Listi two-run homer in the sixth inning. The outing was Howard’s second-longest of the season as he also matched his season high with five strikeouts.
Howard came on in relief of Tech starter Ryan Moseley, who positioned Tech to win early after tossing 4.1 strong innings. Moseley surrendered just a run off three hits and a pair of walks in his first start since March 4 against Cal State Fullerton.
The right-hander benefited from an early lead after Smith boosted the Red Raiders with doubles to lead off both the first and third innings. Smith scored in both frames thanks to a RBI groundout from Tanner Gardner and then a bases-load balk.
The Patriots were able to tie the game twice off a Camden Duzenack sacrifice fly in the third and then Listi’s 10th home run of the season in the sixth. The tie game was short-lived, however, as the Red Raiders responded with at least one run in the bottom half of both frames.
Dallas Baptist reliever Landon Wilson suffered the loss for the Patriots after surrendering three runs off three hits and three strikeouts over his three complete innings. He relieved starter Coby Weaver, who gave up two runs off two hits in just two innings of work.
In addition to Garcia and Howard, Texas Tech was also represented on the all-tournament team by both Raley and Smith as well as Friday night starting pitching Davis Martin.
Season ticket holders and Red Raider Club members have until 5 p.m. Tuesday to reserve their tickets for this weekend’s Super Regional. If seats remain, tickets will go on sale at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.
For ticket questions, please contact the Texas Tech Ticket Office at 806-742-TECH.
