#19 Texas Tech Red Raiders travel to Manhattan, Kansas, to take on the Kansas State Wildcats. Preview after the jump.
Photo via Charles Henry @ Flickr
Texas Tech vs. Kansas State 
Series Details:
Dates: Friday, April 17th – Saturday, April 19th
Good Guys: Texas Tech Red Raiders (23-14, 7-5)
Bad Guys: Kansas State Wildcats (17-18, 4-8)
Location: Tointon Family Stadium | Manhattan, KS
Game Notes: PDF
TV/Stream: Friday – Cox Kansas; Saturday – FOX College Sports – Pacific; Sunday – FOX College Sports – Central
Radio/Stream: Broadcast Affiliates and TuneIn App
Kansas State comes in reeling a bit, only four conference wins and lagging a bit behind and second to last in the conference standings. Kansas State hits .259 as a team, good for 7th in the Big 12, and a lot like Baylor, are a light hitting team as they’ve only hit 4 home runs for the year (for the team) and as a result are second to last in slugging percentage in the Big 12 as .333. They do walk a bit more than Baylor and get on base at a .350 click. Kansas State’s pitching sits at an 4.02 ERA and allows teams to hit .273, which is 3rd worst in the Big 12. Tyler Moore is the team’s best hitter at .319 and slugs .451, but only has 2 home runs, while Shane Conlon hits .303 overall with a .455 slugging percentage. Nate Griep is the team’s best pitcher with an ERA of 2.42 and is 3-1 on the year, but he’s not listed as a starter for the weekend.
Probable Starters:
Texas Tech Starting Pitcher: RHP Ryan Moseley (3-3, 2.84)
Kansas State Starting Pitcher: RHP Colton Kalmus (1-2, 3.70)
Final Score & Box Score: Kansas State 5, Texas Tech 3 (recap and box score)
Everything was going swimmingly until the 5th inning, where things got away from Ryan Moseley, where he allowed 4 runs and was uncharacteristically not in control with a hit-by-pitch, a wild pitch, a couple of walks and a double, but by that time, the unraveling was done. The Texas Tech offense could only manage 3 runs, all on a Stephen Smith line shot in the third inning that scored Zach Davis and Tyler Floyd. That was the extent of the offense and the offense only managed 6 hits for the day.
The Red Raiders left 11 on base, and that was the teams’ downfall yesterday afternoon. It should also be noted that Texas Tech had 2 errors, one of them being freshman Orlando Garcia, who is subbing in for Tim Proudfoot, and the other being fellow freshman Tanner Gardner.
One more note, is that Corey Taylor pitched the last 3 frames and that means he likely won’t be available the rest of the series. Maybe on Sunday, as he threw only 31 pitches.
Game 2: Saturday, April 18th @ 2:00 pm
Texas Tech Starting Pitcher: LHP Cameron Smith (4-2, 2.77)
Kansas State Starting Pitcher: TBA
Final Score & Box Score: Texas Tech 7, Kansas State 1 (recap and box score)
The Red Raiders get back on track as they got out early and often on Kansas State, scoring 4 runs in the first inning and 3 more in the third, while Cameron Smith pitched, yet another gem.
Smith was the star of the game, going 8.1 innings, allowing only 4 hits, walking 2 and striking out 6. Smith threw 72 of his 117 pitches for strikes and was on point the entire game. Matt Withrow pitched the final 2 outs, allowing a run on 2 hits.
Cory Raley and Tyler Floyd each hit home runs, Raley hit his 2nd of the year in the first inning and went 2 for 4 on the day, driving in 3 runs, while Floyd hit a solo shot in the 3rd inning. The offense looked more well-rounded and seems to be looking that way as Zach Davis is mow a big part of the offense hitting leadoff and Raley hitting behind Eric Gutierrez, who was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and an RBI, seems to be surging. Also of note, is the all freshman left side of the field with Michael Davis at second and Orlando Garcia at third.
Game 3: Sunday, April 19th @ 1:00 pm
Texas Tech Starting Pitcher: TBA
Kansas Starting Pitcher: TBA
Final Score & Box Score: Texas Tech 4, Kansas State 1 (recap and box score)
Dylan Dusek got the start but he only lasted 1.2 innings. The first inning was okay, although Dusek allowed just a single, but then in the second inning, Dusek allowed a single and then registered two outs. With two outs, KSU singled, then Dusek Balked, scoring a run and then walked another batter. Done. In comes Corey Taylor, who pitched in game one, and shut down Kansas State for his 2.2 innings, allowing just 4 hits, walking 1 and striking out 3. Dominic Moreno was the star of the game, pitching the last 4.2 innings, giving up 3 hits, no runs, walking 2 and striking out 6, including 4 strikeouts in a row. Taylor gets the win and Moreno gets the incredibly long save.
Tyle Neslony homered in the second inning and Steve Smith scored on an Eric Gutierrez sacrifice fly and that’s all Texas Tech would need. Texas Tech would score two more in the 6th inning, Orlando Garcia singled home Michael Davis and Gutierrez.