Long Ball Lifts No. 7 Red Raiders to Semifinals

Friday, May 24

Oklahoma City, OK / Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark

3:15 PM

Texas Tech Athletics

38-16

Kansas

32-26

Kansas

Texas Tech

Photo by: Big 12 Conference

Long Ball Lifts No. 7 Red Raiders to Semifinals

May 24, 2019 | Baseball

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Red Raiders rally from four down with three jacks late to secure 7-5 win.

By: Texas Tech Athletics Communications

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – No. 7 Texas Tech baseball climbed out of a 4-0 hole thanks to three home runs in the sixth and seventh innings to grab a 7-5 win over Kansas Friday afternoon at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark and secure a spot in the semifinals of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship.

Junior Josh Jung and sophomore Kurt Wilson homered in the sixth and sophomore Gabe Holt hit the deciding dinger in the seventh to send the Red Raiders (38-16) past the Jayhawks (32-26). This is the first time since 2000 Tech has won multiple games at the event.

Holt's home run came in a 5-5 game with a man on first and no outs in the seventh. The Bonaire, Ga., native sent the first pitch he saw over a Big 12 Championship banner in center field to provide the winning runs. It was his third home run of the season and the third time he has driven in the game-winning RBI in the seventh inning or later this year.

Tech trailed 4-0 after the top of the second before starting to chip away. A sacrifice fly from Kurt Wilson drove in Jung in the third, and a triple from freshman Cole Stilwell allowed Holt to knock him in and make it a 4-2 game after three.

That's where the game stayed until the sixth when Jung jumpstarted the Tech lineup. He turned on a first-pitch fastball and sent a laser over the wall to cut the lead to one. It was the 10^th home run for the San Antonio, Texas, native and 28^th of his career.

With two away in the inning, sophomore Cody Masters singled to setup a two-run blast from Wilson that gave Tech its first lead of the day at 5-4. It was the third time Wilson has gone long this year as Tech improves to 9-2 since he became the every-day starter in left field.

Kansas's Brett Vosik connected on a solo home run for the Jayhawks in the seventh to pull even at 5-5, setting up Holt's heroics. Jaxx Groshans led KU with three RBI in a 1-for-3 showing.

Sophomore Bryce Bonnin settled in to toss five innings for the Red Raiders. After giving up four in the first two frames, he allowed only two more base runners in the next three to keep Tech within striking distance.

Junior Connor Queen (4-0) picked up the win in 2.2 innings of relief. Vosik's dinger was the first run he has given up all season. Junior lefty Dane Haveman picked up his first career save, closing out the final four outs.

The top-seeded Red Raiders advance to face West Virginia at 9 a.m. on Saturday, needing two wins against the Mountaineers on Saturday to reach Sunday's championship game. Saturday's starters are TBD for both squads.