It was the quickest two wins Texas will ever get.
First Randy Boone struck out Texas Tech’s Geoff Byrns, recording the only out the Longhorns needed Saturday to complete a 7-2 victory, in a game that was suspended in the ninth inning Friday due to inclement weather.
Then, in Game 2 of their three-game series with the Red Raiders at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, the Longhorns scored five runs in the first inning.
That contest was all but over, as the Horns (30-10 overall, 11-3 Big 12) cruised to a 10-1 victory.
“Early in the year we jumped out a couple of times and lost the momentum, but we learned from that,” Texas coach Augie Garrido said. “We are not forgetting the lessons we learned from some of the adversity we faced.”
Texas’ early lead was plenty for Adrian Alaniz, who returned to form after a rough outing in Kansas, giving up one run on three hits in seven innings.
“We didn’t have a chance today,” Texas Tech coach Larry Hays said. “They got a big home run in the first inning, we misplayed a couple balls in the outfield and their guy pitched extremely well.”
Alaniz fought gusting winds and chilly temperatures to improve his record to 9-2.
“Last week really helped me a lot,” Alaniz said of his struggles. “I just kind of put that behind me today and just went out and pitched. I really wasn’t affected by the weather.”
Chance Wheeless continued his impressive season by recording a hit for the 17th straight game, the eighth-best streak in Texas history. The Longhorns first baseman did it in style, too, stepping up to the plate in the first inning and ripping a two-run home run over the right-field fence to give Texas a 3-0 lead.
“I didn’t think anybody would hit home runs today with the wind, but I knew that one was gone right off the bat,” said Wheeless, who went 2 for 3.
After Wheeless’ blast, third baseman Bradley Suttle hit a single and catcher Preston Clark, who was 3 for 5 with an RBI, reached on an error. Two batters later, Russell Moldenhauer’s two-run single gave Texas a 5-0 lead with just one out in the first, knocking Texas Tech left-hander Josh Scofield out of the game.
Garrido wasn’t surprised at his team’s success.
“Teams don’t recognize — and I don’t care if they know it — but everybody sees our lineup and starts left-handed pitchers against us,” Garrido said. “We’re hitting 50 points higher against left-handed pitchers than we are against right-handed pitchers.”
Maybe the Horns have their work cut out for themselves today, as Texas Tech (22-15, 5-8) sends righty Travis Young to the mound to face Texas’ Joseph Krebs.
