Texas Tech Athletics
Red vs. Black (Game 2)
Murrell, Rumfield Spark Black to Even Series
November 02, 2019 | Baseball
Connor Queen picks up the win, Kurt Wilson earns the save for the Black squad.
LUBBOCK, Texas – Solo home runs from junior Easton Murrell and redshirt freshman T.J. Rumfield pushed the Black team to a 4-2 win over the Red team on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Rip Griffin Park. The Red & Black Series is now even at one game apiece after Red's 10-4 victory on Friday.
The dingers were part of multi-hit days for the lefties. Murrell finished 2-for-4 with the home run, a double and a walk. Rumfield, meanwhile, went 2-for-4 with the homer, a single and a base on balls.
Freshman Dillon Carter and junior Braxton Fulford led the Red squad at the plate with Carter going 2-for-4 with a double and a walk and Fulford earning Red's lone RBI until the ninth with a sac fly in the fifth.
It was a pitcher's duel until the fifth as both starters tossed four scoreless frames, allowing just three combined hits, before giving way to their respective bullpens. Sophomore Micah Dallas didn't allow a base runner to second, striking out three with a hit and a walk. Junior Bryce Bonnin was equally as effective, working around two walks and three walks with a strikeout.
Two games in, Rumfield and fellow newcomer Bo Willis are leading the Black team at the plate with Rumfield hitting 3-for-9 with a walk while Willis is 5-for-9 with five singles. For Red, newcomers Jared Cushing and Dillon Carter have carried the load with Cushing at 4-for-9 with two runs and Carter 3-for-8 with a double, three walks and three runs scored.
Both squads have sent the majority of their pitchers to the mound through the first two games. Black has used all 10 of its pitchers to this point while Red has used nine of its 10 arms, including five today.
Game three of the five-game series is set for Thursday, Nov. 7, at 3 p.m. Follow @TTU_Baseball for the latest news and updates.
NOTABLE MOMENTS
Bottom 1 -Â With one out and the bases clear, junior Dylan Neuse worked a 10-pitch at bat against Dallas. Neuse fouled off several pitches and worked a full count before squaring up a low liner to second that was snagged off the bounce by senior Brian Klein and tossed to first for the out.
Top 2 – With a runner at first and nobody out, Murrell doubled down the left field line. The base runner took a big turn home and was caught diving back into third as sophomore left fielder Tanner O'Tremba fired it in to Neuse at third who applied the tag.
Bottom 3 – Dallas threw just seven pitches – all of which were strikes – and took care of the Red third all on his own. A bunt was popped up back to him to open the frame, and then he struck out the next two batters as it went back to the top of the lineup.
Top 4 – Rumfield led off with a single for Black, but was erased on a double play by second baseman Jace Jung, who charged a grounder and tagged Rumfield out before throwing off-balance to first to get freshman Nate Rombach.
Top 5 – Consecutive singles from the bottom of the order in freshman Bo Willis and sophomore Hunter Dobbins put two aboard, and sophomore Dru Baker came through with a two-out base knock that was just out of reach from the glove of freshman shortstop Jared Cushing to plate the first run of the game. Black nearly tacked on more, but Jung dove to his left on a hard grounder to rob Klein of an RBI and end the inning.
Top 6 – The bats continued to heat up as Black reclaimed the lead thanks to a pair of solo home runs from Rumfield and Murrell. Both lefties went yard to right with Rumfield's banging off the foul pole and Murrell's going over the Tech bullpen.
Top 7 – Patience at the plate paid off for Black as Klein beat out an infield single and a pair of walks loaded the bases with one out. After a run came in on a wild pitch to make it 4-1, junior Riley Ramsey was able to limit the damage for Red with a force at home and a strikeout.
Bottom 7 – Red looked to answer, getting its first two men aboard on free passes. Klein, however, quickly turned the inning around for Black with a 4-3 double play. With two away and a man at third, Willis caught a fly ball in right to end the frame.
Bottom 9 – Trailing 4-1, Red put the tying run on base as it loaded the bases thanks to a Carter double, an error in the infield and a walk to Stilwell.
Both starters have been lights out through four with just three hits combined between the two lineups.
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) November 2, 2019
Riechmann to take over on the mound for Red in the fifth.
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