For the second time in the past three seasons, Texas Tech is heading to the College World Series in Omaha.
The Red Raiders, backed by six runs over the first three frames and seven shutout innings from Erikson Lanning, topped East Carolina, 11-0, Sunday afternoon in front of another capacity crowd of 4,817 fans inside Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
It was the second winner-take-all victory in as many weeks for the Red Raiders, who are one of six schools currently to advance to the College World Series twice over the past three seasons. Tech joins the likes of TCU, Virginia, Louisville, Vanderbilt and Miami.
After needing 13 innings to even the series Saturday, the Red Raiders (46-18) jumped on East Carolina (38-23-1) early and became the 30th team since the super regional format was introduced in 1999 to overcome a 1-0 series deficit. Tech struck for three runs in the opening frame thanks to a bases-loaded walk to Tyler Neslony and a two-run single courtesy of Eric Gutierrez.
Lanning (3-3) took control from there as he limited the Pirates to just two hits over seven scoreless innings. It marked the longest outing of the year for Lanning, who was making his first start in over a month and first during a weekend series since Tech's season opener against Milwaukee in February.
East Carolina threatened early following a leadoff single from Parker Lamm and a one-out walk to Travis Watkins. Lanning settled in and weathered the storm to get out of the jam with a flyout and a ground out that bounced off his glove to shortstop Orlando Garcia. Then, the freshman right-hander found his groove and retired 10 consecutive ECU hitters from the second through six innings.
Lanning fanned a career-high six hitters and sat down 16 of the final 17 Pirates he faced before Hayden Howard entered to the contest. Howard tossed two spotless frames to complete the two-hit shutout for the Red Raiders.
Meanwhile, Texas Tech's offense gave Lanning plenty of support with three more runs in the third, a run in the sixth, three additional runs in the seventh and a single tally in the eighth to complete the rout. It marked the largest margin of victory for Tech in the NCAA postseason since defeating Temple, 14-3, at the 2001 NCAA Fullerton Regional.
Gutierrez reached base in all five plate appearances to lead the Red Raiders as he had a walk in the third and was plunked in the fifth and eight innings between unloading a second RBI single for the first of three runs in the seventh.
Hunter Hargrove followed Gutierrez with a RBI double in the seventh, his second of the day, after driving a two-run shot down the left-field line in the third. Hargrove was one of four Red Raiders to provide a multi-hit game, joining Gutierrez (2-for-2), Neslony (2-for-3) and Garcia (2-for-4).
Tech rode a balanced offensive attack with 14 hits coming from eight players and five players accounting for a RBI. The top seven batters of the Red Raider lineup also scored a run.
Game times and ticket information for the College World Series will be announced at a later time. The Red Raiders will face the winner of the NCAA College Station Super Regional between TCU and No. 4 national seed Texas A&M in their opening game of the College World Series.
