Texas Tech baseball lets another late lead slip away against Arkansas

For the second game in a row, the Texas Tech baseball team held a lead over second-ranked Arkansas for at least half the game. For the second straight game, the Red Raiders walked out of Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville with a one-run loss.

Arkansas scored the final three runs of the game to come away with a 5-4 victory. The Razorbacks overcame a six-run deficit in Tuesday's contest to win 9-8 for the mid-week sweep.

The Red Raiders (26-13) have lost four games in a row, which followed an eight-game winning streak.

Red Raiders follow disappointing Tuesday finish with rough Wednesday start

Letting a six-run lead slip away in the 9-8 loss on Tuesday, Texas Tech didn't help itself much to start Wednesday's contest.

Arkansas pitcher Colin Fisher needed six pitches to get out of the top of the first inning. Then Peyton Stovall led off the bottom of the frame by crushing Hudson Parker's 1-1 offering, able to admire his solo shot and an early 1-0 lead.

After Austin Green doubled in his first at-bat of the day and tied the game in the top of the second, Jack Wagner hit an opposite-field homer to put Arkansas back in front.

Kevin Bazzell's double doesn't do the trick

The Red Raiders held a lead into the sixth inning thanks to a two-run double by Kevin Bazzell in the third. Tech led 3-2 going into the bottom of the sixth, less than 24 hours after seeing their 7-1 lead evaporate in Tuesday's 9-8 loss.

Once again, the Razorbacks came back, plating two runs in the sixth inning and adding an insurance run in the eighth.

The Red Raiders used six pitchers Tuesday with three of them — Isaiah Rhodes, Cole Kaase and Derek Bridges — unable to get a full inning of work in. Rhodes walked the one batter he faced in the sixth, who came around to score the tying run later in the order.

Cade McGee hit a solo home run in the top of the ninth to cut into the final deficit. This came immediately after the Red Raiders were doubled up on a hard lineout to second base.

What's next?

The Red Raiders return home after a six-game road swing to host West Virginia for a three-game series starting Friday. The Mountaineers entered the week tied with Oklahoma for first in the Big 12 standings, each sporting 11-4 records. Friday's game will be at 6:30 p.m., Saturday's at 2 p.m. and Sunday's finale at 1 p.m.