Tim Tadlock admitted Friday night that his Texas Tech baseball team needs to score at least “about .500” to extend the program's record of seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
The Red Raiders have fallen short of that standard and are in a dangerous position.
No. 23 Oklahoma defeated Texas Tech 7-5 on Saturday at Dan Law Field/Rip Griffin Park, led by power pitching from Kyson Witherspoon and four RBIs from third baseman Anthony McKenzie. Ta.
Oklahoma took a 6-0 lead as Tech hit a solo home run from Kevin Buzzell in the sixth inning, a two-run homer from Gavin Kash in the seventh, and a two-run homer from Tracer Lopez in the ninth.
Texas Tech is in danger of being swept in the Big 12 series for the second straight week. Kansas took three points from the Red Raiders last weekend. Tech (30-19, 12-14) will look to end its five-game losing streak in the series with conference-leading Oklahoma (28-17, 17-6) on Sunday at 2 p.m. aim.
“We really like this group of players and trust them to be in the game,” Tadlock said. “There's no reason to doubt them now. We just put them in a position to be successful.”
The last time Tech missed an NCAA regional was in 2015, a year after the program's first of four trips to the College World Series.
Asked about his team's postseason chances after Friday's 8-0 loss, Tadlock said, “I definitely think we'd better find a way to get around .500 (in the Big 12) and win this series. I think we need to, and we need to win the next series, right? If we don't, we obviously put ourselves at risk.”
Tech, tied for eighth place in the Big 12 with TCU at the end of Saturday, concludes conference play next weekend against No. 16 Oklahoma State.
“I think he's definitely going to be in the (NCAA) Tournament,” Oklahoma coach Skip Johnson said. He has been Tadlock's best friend since they were Little League teammates in Denton. “He'll definitely make up for it. His teams always play really well at the end of the year. They had a really good team. For them to go to Omaha (site of the College World Series) was visible.”
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OU's Braden Davis and Will Kirsten earned a four-hit shutout on Friday, followed by Kyson Witherspoon. The power-throwing right-hander extended his streak of scoreless innings to two-thirds of his 14 innings before allowing Buzzell's home run.
“He's got a good arm,” Johnson said. “He can really throw, he's really competitive and we're glad he's on our team.”
Witherspoon (5-3) allowed four hits and had seven strikeouts, leading 6-1 before leaving the game with two outs in the seventh inning. Kash then hit a two-run homer against Witherspoon.
Witherspoon's fastball ranged from 93 mph early in the game to 96 mph as the game progressed.
“That's what he does,” Johnson said. “He'll get stronger as the game progresses.”
You'll soon have your way with Kyle Robinson.
The Texas Tech right-hander made five strong starts in six Big 12 games from March 15 to April 21, but struggled with eight hits and six runs in his second consecutive start.
Last week against Kansas, he allowed 7 hits and 8 runs (7 earned runs) in 4 2/3 innings.
Robinson (4-6) was pulled after the first four batters reached in the fifth inning. Bryce Madrone hit the leadoff home run, and Anthony McKenzie finished off Robinson with a three-run homer.
Robinson allowed four consecutive hits in the first inning, including scoring singles by Easton Carmichael and McKenzie.
