LUBBOCK, Texas — Texas Tech headed back home after a tough series loss to TCU in Fort Worth. The Red Raiders welcomed another in-state Big 12 foe to Rip Griffin Park, as Houston made the trip to Lubbock.
The Cougars struck first in Thursday’s opener, with three runs crossing the plate in the second inning. Houston was able to double up their lead in the top of the fifth before Texas Tech fought back with three runs of its own in the following frame. The two teams continued to battle down the stretch, with the Cougars getting another pair of runs and the Red Raiders sending three runs home. After narrowing the gap to 8-6, Texas Tech was shutdown late and got handed its first home loss to Houston in nearly three decades. On the mound, Lukas Pirko was credited the loss after going five complete innings allowing six runs off eight hits and striking out three batters.
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The opening theatrics bled into Friday’s matchup. Once again it was Houston that took the lead early with three runs in the game’s opening frame. Texas Tech methodically cut into the deficit by adding runs in the first, third and fourth inning. However, the Cougars got back to a three-run advantage in the fifth inning. The Red Raiders still refused to go away and continued to chip away one run at a time.
Eventually, Texas Tech got its breakout inning in the bottom of the seventh. The Red Raiders tallied four runs in the frame, with infielder Robin Villeneuve accounting for two as a part of his team-high three RBIs. For the first time in the series Texas Tech went in front and after picking up another cushion run in the eighth, the Red Raiders had a chance to equalize the series. But the boom-or-bust offense for Houston reemerged and the Cougars surged for three runs in their last gasp to send the game into extra innings…