IOWA CITY, Iowa – No. 12/17 ranked Texas Tech scored six runs over the first four innings en route to an 11-3 victory over the University of Iowa baseball team on Saturday afternoon at Duane Banks Field.
The Red Raiders’ Easton Murrell hit the fifth pitch of the game for a towering solo home run to right field to give Texas Tech the early lead. The Red Raiders added on to it, scoring two unearned runs in the third on an errant throw to the plate with the bases loaded before putting up a three spot in the fourth.
Two of the runs came on a two-run home run to left field from Cole Stilwell.
The Hawkeyes got on the board in the fourth inning on an RBI single from Ty Snep and Iowa loaded the bases with nobody out in the fifth, but the team came away with just one run on an RBI ground out from Peyton Williams.
The Red Raiders pushed their lead to 7-2 with one run before blowing the game open with a four-run eighth.
Redshirt sophomore Adam Mazur (2-1) suffered the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) on four hits over four innings. The righthander struck out five but issued four walks.
QUOTING COACH HELLER
“We played a good team and faced a good arm and the top half of their lineup is dangerous, but we just didn’t play well. We made it easy for them and didn’t make them earn it. They got some hits when we gave them free bases, but other than the leadoff home run, there were seven walks and five score.
“In the third inning, we dropped a pop up, there was a walk, intentional walk, and we get what we want and make an error and two runs score. You’re not going to win a lot of games doing that. That’s the disappointing part because I feel we’re capable. Right now, it’s just not happening on a consistent basis.”
OF NOTE…
– The Hawkeye pitchers finished with 15 strikeouts in the game. It was the team’s 12th game with 10 or more strikeouts this season.
– Saturday’s game was Iowa’s first against a ranked foe this season.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes and Red Raiders will play the final game of the two-game series on Sunday. Game time is set for 1:05 p.m. (CT).
