Texas Tech Is Undefeated Against Florida in the 2018 Postseason
First, the Red Raider basketball team took the Gators down in the NCAA Tournament. Then, on Sunday night, the Texas Tech baseball team took the Florida Gators to the woodshed in Omaha, winning 6-3 to win the opening game of the College World Series.
Florida limped into Omaha after being the best team in the country all season long, and they continued to look bad last night. The Red Raiders bats took it to the National Player of the Year and SEC pitcher of the year Brady Singer, who went 6.1 innings and gave up nine hits and five runs for his trouble.
JJ Schwartz returned from an injury, but after a month off and playing out of position, the Gators captain did more harm than good and looked completely lost against the Texas Tech pitching.
Schwartz was also a liability at first base, which helped Gabe Holt get the two-run single below to get the Red Raiders going. (Special shout out to Braxton Fulford for scoring from second on a single. Really great base running from the freshman catcher.)
The staring tandem of Dylan Dusek and Ryan Shetter was great again and stifled a good Florida offense going a combined 6.1.
Shetter was especially sharp, striking out seven Florida hitters. And when Shetter is sharp, it's really great.
Dusek nearly allowed a big hit in the first inning, but Grant "Web Gem" Little showed off his impressive range with a Superman catch in the outfield.
Brady Singer looked pretty good early in the game, but it went downhill quickly when Cam Warren had a 14-pitch at bat that ballooned Singer's pitch count and got him off-key. With his fastball out of tune, Singer gave up at least a run in the 4th, 5th and 6th innings before getting relieved in the 7th inning.
The Red Raiders were up 5-1 in the 7th inning when Florida made it interesting. Shetter would walk a batter and be relived by Ty Harpeneau, who would give up a two-run bomb before getting out of the inning with a 5-3 lead intact.
Texas Tech was the road team, so after a scoreless 8th inning, the Red Raiders needed an insurance run. And the man who has provided insurance nearly every time they've needed it in this postseason run stepped up to bat and delivered.
Cody Farhat would strike out to open the inning, but a passed ball would allow him to get on base. Braxton Fulford would lay down the bunt to get Farhat to second, before Gabe Holt got to the plate to do Gabe Holt things. A single through the hole would plate Farhat, Holt's 3rd RBI of the game.
The bottom of the 9th would see Ty Harpeneau get into a rhythm. Thirteen pitches, two strikeouts and a grounder he fielded himself would end the game.
Texas Tech will now face a hot Arkansas team that's 1-0 against the Red Raiders this season. That game is scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m., weather permitting.
Florida and Texas will play in the loser's bracket to determine who moves on to face the loser of the Arkansas and Texas Tech game.