Red Raiders Lose to New Mexico Lobos, Drop Third in a Row

No. 17 Texas Tech scored single runs in six separate innings and hit three solo home runs  but it was not enough as the Red Raiders dropped a 7-6 decision to the New Mexico Lobos Tuesday at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.

The Red Raiders (16-9) drew first blood when Cory Raley clubbed his first home run  of the season putting Tech up 1-0.

Tech struggled to get out of the Lobos second inning while committing two errors that led to a pair of unearned runs as UNM added four base hits during a four-run second inning.

Sophomore left-hander Ty Damron allowed six runs (4 earned) on nine hits in 3.2 innings with two strikeouts taking the loss and seeing his record fall to 2-1 on the season.

The Tech bullpen combo of  Matt Withrow, Parker Mushinski, and  Matt Custred gave up one run on two hits in 5.1 innings of relief. For Custred it was his fifth consecutive scoreless appearance  tying Corey Taylor for the team-high in that category.

UNM reliever Preston Ryan (2-1) earned the win pitching 2.1 innings allowing just one run on three hits with a walk. Reliever Hayden Schilling pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his first save of the season.

Tyler Neslony hit his team-leading fourth  and Ryan Long both hit his second home run of the season. Long’s eight inning round-tripper closed the gap to 7-5.

Pinch hitter Hunter Hargrave drove in a run with a fielder’s choice to draw the Red Raiders within one at 7-6. But Tech stranded the game-tying run at first base.

The Red Raiders will play their Big 12 home opening series this weekend hosting Kansas, March 27-29, at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park. The series opener is set for 6:30 p.m. on Friday (FOX College Sports), game two is a 2 p.m. first pitch on Saturday and the series finale is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. (FOX College Sports).