TJ Pompey 3-run HR helps Texas Tech baseball clinch home series versus Texas Southern

Texas Tech baseball coach Tim Tadlock knew Friday's historic offensive performance was special. But, the 12th-year coach is also aware that it's one game and things change in 24 hours when it comes to baseball.

"I'm sure they'll come back and be better tomorrow," Tadlock said Friday, following his team's 32-5 home-opening win over Texas Southern — setting a program mark for runs in a game.

Boy, was that sage advice.

The Red Raiders, who scored 12 runs in the first three innings a day prior, put up zeros against the Tigers pitching staff while TSU took a three-run lead in the process to quiet a sellout crowd of 4,432.

Just like a day prior, though, patience turned into success for the Texas Tech lineup in the fourth — highlighted by a three-run home run by TJ Pompey, his first of the season, as part of a 10-run inning — before the Red Raiders secured a 20-4 victory in the second of a three-game non conference set Saturday at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.

Pompey ended his day with five RBIs on 4-for-5 hitting, a day after fellow freshman Landon Stripling netted seven RBIs, while Damian Bravo drove in three runs. Drew Woodcox, Gavin Kash, Austin Green and Dylan Maxcey each had two RBIs in the win.

With the victory, Texas Tech (5-2) has a chance to sweep the series against Texas Southern (2-4). The Red Raiders have won their last 20 games on opening weekend under Tadlock.

TJ Pompey is game-changer in fourth inning

Thanks to good eyes from Kevin Bazzell, Gavin Kash and Cade McGee, the Red Raiders set up a big inning by loading the bases for a consistent hitter. Austin Green, who came in hitting .429, ripped a two-RBI double down the third-base line that jumpstarted a big inning for Texas Tech. The highlight was a go-ahead three-run home run by TJ Pompey before 14 batters walked to the plate and the Red Raiders took a 10-3 advantage they never relinquished.

Momentum shift in first inning

Following a wide throw with one out to second base, Tracer Lopez slid in safe and appeared to record his first stolen base of the season — while also putting a runner in scoring position. Instead, the Red Raiders found themselves trotting back to the dugout.

Homeplate umpire Trey Plummer indicated Texas Tech's Kevin Bazzell got in the way of TSU catcher Michael Goudeau, which resulted in a unique double play to end the first inning.

Tim Tadlock walked out of the Red Raiders dugout before he returned following a short discussion with the home-plate umpire.

Another missed chance in the third inning

Damian Bravo was 90 feet away from home plate with one out in the bottom half of the third inning.

With Dylan Maxcey up to bat, Bravo looked to shift his momentum to the plate but was caught in no-man's land and in a pickle a few moments after. Maxcey hit a dribbler to Texas Southern pitcher Domenic Martinez, who flipped the ball to his catcher for the tag, before the Red Raiders ended the inning with a pop fly by Tracer Lopez.

Efficient start to the season for Drew Woodcox

In a limited amount of at-bats, Drew Woodcox is showing he can swing the stick with a .571 batting average.

In his seven at bats, the Rice transfer has netted four hits — including a two-home run performance Friday against the Tigers. He has five RBIs going into Saturday's tilt.

Woodcox netted two RBIs and went 1-for-6.

Figuring out their roles

The Texas Tech baseball team has a plethora or talent, which poses a good and bad problem for the coaching staff — needing to find at bats and reps for everyone.

That was the case Saturday as freshman Landon Stripling, who earned his second start a day prior and turned in a five-hit, seven-RBI performance, was not in the lineup. Gavin Kash, whom Stripling replaced at first base in the Friday home opener, returned to the lineup in his normal cleanup spot. Both are power bats, who swing from the left side, and battling to earn playing time based on their defense at first base.

Kash was hitting .136 (3-for-22, one HR) going into Saturday's contest, while Stripling is at .667 (8-for-12, two HRs). Kash went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

"He swung the bat really good on Wednesday (against Oregon State last week) after coming off the bench on (last) Tuesday I want to say," Tadlock said Friday of why Stripling earned his spot in the lineup for the home opener. "He had some hits and drove in seven, but usually when you have five hits there's some luck go your way. But I was proud of the way he played today (Friday) …

"You're talking about his first start in the field today, and again there was definitely some good fortune in there but he's a good baseball player, always has been."

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What's next

Texas Tech and Texas Southern are scheduled to complete their three-game series with a 1 p.m. Sunday getaway contest. The game is set to be streamed on ESPN+.

The Red Raiders are in the midst of a six-game homestand, the longest of the season, which is slated to continue with a three-game series against Gardner-Webb set for contests on March 1 (6:30 p.m.), March 2 (2 p.m.) and March 3 (2 p.m.) with the contests to be online streamed on ESPN+.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: TJ Pompey 3-run HR helps Texas Tech clinch home series over Texas Southern in Lubbock