Black Team Wins Series Opener, 4-3
October 18, 2013 | Baseball
Smith broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning with a two-run homer for the Black Team
Oct. 18, 2013
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech opened its annual Red & Black Series with the Black Team claiming a 4-3 victory while freshman right fielder Stephen Smith hit a two-run homer and junior catcher Hunter Redman drove in the game-winning run with a double in the eighth inning on Friday evening at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
The Red & Black Series is a five-game series that concludes the Red Raiders fall season.
Junior right-handed pitcher Corey Taylor (1-0) earned the win in relief for the Black Team pitching 3.2 innings allowing just one run (earned) on four hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
With the score tied at three heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, the Black Team started the frame with a seven-pitch, leadoff walk to left fielder Adam Kirsch. After back-to-back fielder's choice grounders, Redman doubled down the right-field line to score sophomore third baseman Alec Humphreys all the way from first base for the game-winning run.
Red Team sophomore reliever Dalton Brown (0-1) suffered the loss allowing just one run on two hits in four innings with two strikeouts and a walk.
Redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Brock Hunt pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save. After retiring the first two batters of the frame in order, Hunt loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch before ending the game with a fielder's choice grounder to third base.
Starting pitchers for both teams took no decisions as junior lefty Cameron Smith went 4.1 innings for the Black Team with five strikeouts allowing just two runs without giving up a walk. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Matt Withrow didn't figure in the decision for the Red Team after allowing three runs (2 ER) in the start allowing three hits and three walks with a strikeout.
With the game tied at one in the bottom of the fourth inning, Smith delivered the big blow with a towering home run over the left-center field wall to give the Black Team a 3-1 lead. Smith finished the game going 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBI.
Redman was the only other player from the Black Team with a multi-hit game going 2-for-4 with a double, run scored, RBI and stolen base.
The Red Team reached the scoreboard first with an RBI triple to right-center field from senior catcher Mason Randolph, which scored junior second baseman Bryant Burleson (2-for-4) who singled up the middle in the inning.
Senior outfielder Todd Ritchie (1-for-2, 2 BB, RBI) scored the Red Team's second run the following inning with an RBI single to right field. Sophomore outfielder Zach Davis later tied the game at three with an RBI fielder's choice grounder to shortstop.
Leading the Red Team at the plate was freshman third baseman Matt Broadbent who was the only Red Raider on either team with three hits going 3-for-4 with a run scored and a lead-off double in the fifth inning.
The Red & Black Series will continue on Saturday, Oct. 19 with a 4 p.m. first pitch. All games of the series will be played at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park and admission is free.
Fans who aren't able to make it to the ballpark for the Red & Black Series can follow all of the action live on Twitter (@TechGameday) and while using the hashtag: #RedBlackSeries.
NOTES:
- First Pitch: 3:35 p.m.
- Time of Game: 2 hours, 15 minutes.
- Temperature: 65 degrees.
- Stephen Smith's home run marked the first home run by a Red Raider in the Red & Black Series since 2011 when then-freshman infielder Bryant Burleson went 3-for-3 with a double, triple and two-run homer to lead the Red Team to a 3-1 victory on Oct. 23, 2011.
- Despite the loss, the Red Team (10 hits) doubled the total number of hits that the Black Team (5 hits) finished with after a 4-3 win.
Red & Black Series Dates/Times/Results:
Game 1: Black Team defeats Red Team, 4-3 (Black Team Leads Series, 1-0)
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 19 - 4 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday, Oct. 20 - 2 p.m.
Game 4: Saturday, Oct. 26 - Noon
Game 5: Sunday, Oct. 27 - 2 p.m.
