Red Raiders walk it off thanks to big sixth inning

DENTON, Texas – The ‘never quit’ attitude of Texas Tech’s softball program was on full display during Saturday’s afternoon game against Minnesota.

 

The Red Raiders (10-3) came out flat on offense, recording just one hit through five innings and allowed the Golden Gophers (4-6) to put up six runs on them including back-to-back two run innings in the fifth and sixth.

 

Freshman Raegan Jennings – making her first career start at second base – led off the sixth with a single into right field, marking her first career hit.

 

Fellow freshman Logan Halleman drew a walk to put two on with no outs. Then, freshman Makenna Mitchell came in to pinch hit and – like Jennings – recorded her first career hit with a single into right field to get Tech’s first run of the day.

 

Tech again had runners on second and third with one out after Arriana Villa grounded out but advanced Mitchell to second.

 

Riley Love stepped in and ripped a double to left-center field to bring in two more runs and get the Red Raider faithful back into the game.

 

Carson Armijo’s sixth double of the season (a career-high) put runners on second and third again before a Kailey Wyckoff single scored Love and allowed Jacee Hamlin – who pinch ran for Armijo – to get to third.

 

Dee McClarity launched a ball deep into left field picking up a sac-fly as Hamlin crossed the plate and made it a 6-5 game with two outs in the sixth.

 

Abbie Orrick got in on the action, ripping a single through the right side and with runners on first and second, before Jennings stepped back into the left batter’s box.

 

The freshman was not phased by the pressure situation and on an 0-1 count shot a ball into right field to score Wyckoff and tie the game. Jennings recorded her first two collegiate hits and collegiate RBI in the same inning.

 

Olivia Rains locked in during the top of the seventh and pitched a one-two-three inning thanks to a super-human diving catch in right field by Hamlin.

 

In the bottom of the seventh, Love again clutched with a triple to right field that was inches away from leaving the park. Armijo, with two outs, hit a sharp groundball that was misplayed by the Minnesota second baseman which allowed her to reach safely and Love to cross the plate for the win.

 

HIGHLIGHTS:

Three freshmen recorded milestones against Minnesota. Jennings picked up her first hit and RBI, Mitchell her first hit and Mimi Blackledge earned her first start in the circle and got her first strikeout.
Armijo set a new single-season high for her career with six doubles.
Love is up to 11 RBIs this season, matching her single-season high. She has also hit five doubles so far this season, a new single-season best for her.
Rains picked up her third win of the season, the most in a single season for her career.

UP NEXT: The Red Raiders will play North Texas at approximately 7 p.m. at Lovelace Stadium

Release Provided By Jay Strader Texas Tech Athletics