Texas Tech struck first, but Vanderbilt's potent offense and timely hitting ignited a decisive 13-3 run-rule victory, leaving Red Raiders searching for answers.
ARLINGTON — Texas Tech baseball showed flashes early Saturday afternoon, but No. 23 Vanderbilt delivered the decisive blows in a 13-3 run-rule victory at the Shriners Children’s College Showdown inside Globe Life Field.
For the second straight game, the Red Raiders struck first. Leadoff man Kyeler Thompson reached on a single and advanced into scoring position thanks to a Vanderbilt throwing error.
After Tracer Lopez moved him over with a sacrifice bunt, Connor Shouse brought Thompson home with a sharply hit grounder that resulted in an infield play at the plate. Shouse was credited with an RBI as Tech grabbed a quick 1-0 lead.
Starter Lukas Pirko navigated the first three innings without damage, but the fourth proved costly.
Vanderbilt’s Braden Holcomb flipped the momentum with a two-run homer that pushed the Commodores in front. The inning unraveled from there, as Vanderbilt strung together timely hits, including a two-run blast from Ryker Waite. Defensive miscues compounded the trouble, and Pirko exited after 3.2 innings, surrendering seven runs - five earned - on six hits while striking out two.
Vanderbilt continued to capitalize, highlighted by Holcomb’s bases-clearing double later in the frame that extended the lead to 8-1.
Texas Tech (0-2) had opportunities to respond but couldn’t convert. The Red Raiders loaded the bases in the fifth inning with nobody out and managed just one run when Shouse beat out a potential double play ball to score Coleman Ryan. Tech finished the afternoon 0-for-5 with the bases loaded and 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position - numbers that ultimately told the story.
Preseason All-American Logan Hughes consistently made loud contact, including several balls clocked over 103 mph earlier in the weekend, but finally broke through with an RBI single in the seventh for his first hit of the event.
Redshirt freshman Logan Addison provided a bright spot out of the bullpen, striking out the side on just 14 pitches in an electric inning of relief.
However, Vanderbilt put the game away late. In his first pitching appearance for Tech, Shouse allowed four runs, including a 405-foot home run by Brodie Johnston, as control issues and walks allowed the Commodores to stretch the margin to 13-3 and trigger the run rule in the eighth.
Texas Tech will look to regroup Sunday afternoon against No. 7 Arkansas, with first pitch scheduled for 2:30 p.m. as the Red Raiders aim to salvage a win at Globe Life Field.