Texas Tech baseball's Austin Green nets walk-off single to down Stanford in extra innings

The Texas Tech baseball team found a way to win a close game late Monday night.

Kevin Bazzell highlighted a 3-for-5 night, four-RBI night and multi-homerun night by hitting a game-tying two-run home run — his second big fly of the night — in the ninth before Austin Green netted a walk-off single in the 11th to lead the Red Raiders to a 10-9 victory over Stanford at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.

"Not trying to do too much," Green said of his mentality going into a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the 11th. "Got a fastball out over there plate and put a swing on it."

With the victory, Texas Tech (20-9) has won its last two games by downing Stanford (11-14).

No matter the lead, the Cardinal continued to find ways to knot the game back up. In the top of the eighth, after putting up no runs in the previous two innings, Jimmy Nati recorded an RBI single down the left-field line to tie the game at 7-7.

Stanford took advantage of a wide throw from shortstop Tracer Lopez — who was attempting to start a double play on a ground ball from Trevor Haskins — and scored the go-ahead run. Charlie Saum provided an insurance run by tallying an RBI single up the middle.

With one out in the ninth, Bazzell fired up the small batch of fans — who stayed and cheered in the 54-degree weather — by sending a ball over the centerfield wall to knot the game up at 9-9.

In the 11th, Landon Stripling — thanks to a bobble by second baseman Owen Cobb, who was unable to corral the ball behind first base — legged out a base hit to jumpstart the Red Raiders offense. Damian Bravo saw his teammates hustle, and did the same to make it back-to-back hits on balls barely leaving the infield.

"So the shift's on Stripling, a little bit — second baseman is playing pull — and he hit it hard enough that it was a hard play for the guy," Tadlock said, explaining the hustle of his players in the 11th to set up the bases-loaded situation for Green. "And the other two was just good fortune, right? You're talking about two balls hit in the right spot. ... Sometimes it's something you can't explain."

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Texas Tech track and field's Caleb Dean tosses ceremonial first pitch

Caleb Dean knows a thing or two about success. The Texas Tech track and field standout won his second straight 60-meter hurdles to help the Red Raiders secure an indoor national title back in March in Boston.

From in front of the pitcher's mound, the Maryland transfer fired the ball a bit left, but got some help from his catcher.

Texas Tech reliever Zach Erdman framed the pitch to ensure Dean left the field with a strike. Before he walked back to the stands, Texas Tech coach Tim Tadlock congratulated the Red Raiders sprinter who also won the 200 at the same national track meet.

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T.J. Pompey tied at the top with Damian Bravo in RBIs

Along with giving Texas Tech the lead in the fourth, T.J. Pompey's big swing in the fourth inning put him at 31 RBIs — placing him in a tie in that category with Damian Bravo.

Pompey, with runners on first and second and a full count with no outs, sent a ball over the left-centerfield wall to give Texas Tech a 6-3 advantage. He finished with three RBIs and went 1-for-5.

Texas Tech baseball vs. Stanford finale pitching matchup

Texas Tech is slated to send Zach Erdman (0-0, 7.11), who caught the ceremonial first pitch Monday from Caleb Dean, in the finale of the two-game conference set to begin the week.

Stanford had not announced its starting pitcher.

What's next?

Texas Tech and Stanford are scheduled to complete their non conference series with a noon Tuesday contest at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park. The game will be streamed online on ESPN+.

Following the Tuesday tilt, Texas Tech is slated to host Big 12 and in-state rival Houston for a three-game set. That series begins with a 6:30 p.m. Friday contest and is followed by 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday contest. All games will be streamed online on ESPN+.