Red Raiders Fall to Oral Roberts 9-7 in Extra Innings

Junior 1B Eric Gutierrez went 2-for-5, including his second home run of the season driving in four runs, but the No.10 Texas Tech baseball team was unable to hang on to a 6-0 lead, losing to Oral Roberts 9-7 in 11 innings at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park Tuesday.

The Golden Eagles (10-8) took the lead during a five-run sixth. Tech (14-6) immediately tied the game in the bottom half of the sixth on a unique play where junior outfielder Tyler Neslony reached on a single, moved to second base on a wild pitch, and then scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Quinn Carpenter - all the way from second base.

ORU plated its eighth and ninth runs in the 11th inning while recording two base hits and taking advantage of several Tech fielding miscues.

The Golden Eagles finished the game with 16 base hits without making an error. The Red Raiders posted 14 base hits and made four errors.

Tech senior right-handed reliever Dominic Moreno (1-2) took the loss allowing two runs (1 ER) on two hits with six strikeouts in 3.0.

Sophomore Ty Damron started for Tech and took a no decision despite going  five innings for the fourth time this season. Damron allowed three earned runs on 10 hits, walked one and had one strikeout.

ORU used seven pitchers while reliever Hayden Holley (1-0) earned his first win pitching a scoreless inning in relief. Jacob McDavid notched his first save throwing a perfect 11th inning.

Texas Tech will complete its two-game midweek series against Oral Roberts with a 2 p.m. first pitch on Wednesday.