Dogs, dingers, Tim Tadlock's 450th win highlight Texas Tech baseball's triumph over UTRGV
Gavin Kash hit a pair of home run to help lead the Texas Tech baseball team to a 11-6 win over UT-Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday at Rip Griffin Park.
Kash homered in each of his first two at-bats and the Red Raiders (30-17) broke the game open with a three-run sixth inning to pull away.
The victory snapped Texas Tech's recent four-game skid, which included a home loss to New Mexico, and getting swept at Kansas last weekend. The win, which was Tim Tadlock's 450th of his coaching career, came in front of 164 good dogs which were in attendance for Bark in the Park.
Tadlock is the second baseball coach to amass 400 wins, joining Larry Hays who notched an 813-479-3 record from 1987-2008.
Offenses dominate early going
One young Texas Tech fan cried out "Already?" as UTRGV's Kade York took the first pitch of the game to the wall in left field for a leadoff double. The first three Vaqueros hit safely and the Red Raiders were in an early 2-0 hole before getting to the plate themselves.
Kash was ready to deliver. The slugger hit home runs in his first two plate appearances of the game. Davis Rivers blasted a solo shot of his own over the wall in center and Cade McGee put the Red Raiders up 5-4 through four innings after a two-run shot.
Through four innings of play, the teams combined for nine runs and 13 hits.
Red Raiders avoid disaster
Two walks and a hit batsman loaded the bases for UTRGV's Martin Vazquez, who already had a two-run home run to his name, with two outs in the top of the sixth inning.
Josh Sanders was brought out of the bullpen to end the threat. Sanders got Vazquez to hit a soft dribbler to Kash at first base. After a slight bobble of the ball, Kash was able to collect himself and beat Martin to the bag for the third out.
Three-run sixth provides the separation
After escaping a dangerous situation, Gage Harrelson drove in his first run since March 3 to give Tech the lead for good. The Red Raiders added another run on an error and a sacrifice fly from Damian Bravo.
Tech threatened to bust the game open further in the seventh, loading the bases with nobody out, but could only get one run across, which came on a wild pitch.
What's next?
The Red Raiders will host Big 12-leading Oklahoma for their final home games of the season Friday through Sunday. Friday's game is set for 6:30 p.m. with Saturday and Sunday games set for 2 p.m. starts.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech baseball tops UTRGV in mid-week Bark in Park contest
