This story was updated to add post-game video.
Linkin Garcia and Matt Quintanar ignited a big first inning with two-run doubles, Kyeler Thompson had four hits and Caden Ferraro homered for the second game in a row as the Texas Tech baseball team beat Penn State 15-7 on Friday, March 6, in the opener of a three-game series.
The four hits were the most by Thompson in his two-year Tech career, and he also reached base being hit by a pitch. He stroked a two-run double to deep center field in the fifth inning and bunted for a hit his next time up in the seventh.
Connor Shouse drove in three runs for Tech (8-4), which has won eight of nine. Davis Rivers and Robin Villeneuve homered back-to-back in the eighth inning, Villeneuve finishing with three hits.
Tech’s Jesse Rusinek (1-0) returned to action four days after his arrest on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. The freshman two-way player retired all four batters he faced in middle relief.
Avery Smith and Bryce Molinaro homered for Penn State (4-7), both off Tech starter Lukas Pirko. Molinaro’s was a three-run shot in the fifth inning that narrowed the gap to 7-5.
The Red Raiders scored six runs in the first, chasing Colin Fitzgerald (1-3), who faced 10 batters and retired two.
The two teams play again at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 7, and 1 p.m. Sunday, March 8, at Dan Law Field/Rip Griffin Park.
Texas Tech baseball vs. Penn State live updates
End of 8th inning: Texas Tech 15, Penn State 7
Davis Rivers and Robin Villeneuve hit consecutive home runs for the Red Raiders in the eighth.
Middle of 8th inning: Texas Tech 13, Penn State 7
Michael Anderson hit a two-out, two-run single in the top of the eighth.
End of 7th inning: Texas Tech 13, Penn State 5
Connor Shouse and Linkin Garcia drove in runs in the seventh, Shouse being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Garcia grounding into a force-out.
End of 6th inning: Texas Tech 11, Penn State 5
Caden Ferraro homered to center field with two outs in the sixth, the second home run of the season for the Tech right fielder.
End of 5th inning: Texas Tech 10, Penn State 5
Kyeler Thompson doubled home two runs in the fifth, and Tracer Lopez followed with a sacrifice fly. Thompson drove in Matt Quintanar, who walked, and Davis Rivers, who was hit by a pitch. Lopez brought home Robin Villeneuve, who reached on an infield single.
Middle of 5th inning: Texas Tech 7, Penn State 5
Texas Tech starting pitcher Lukas Pirko gave up two singles to start the fifth, and then Bryce Molinaro unloaded a three-run homer to center field. Pirko retired the next two batters and then was lifted after yielding an infield single. Replacing him was Jesse Rusinek, who was arrested early Monday, March 2, on suspicion of driving while intoxicated with an open container.
End of 4th inning: Texas Tech 7, Penn State 2
Thompson doubled leading off, took third on a groundout and scored on a fielder’s choice by Connor Shouse.
Middle of 4th inning: Texas Tech 6, Penn State 2
Pirko retired nine of 10 batters before he ran into trouble with one out in the fourth. Justin Turcovski singled, Avery Smith walked and Preston Yaucher doubled off the glove of third baseman Connor Shouse, scoring Turcovski. The Nittany Lions ran themselves out of the inning with one out and two in scoring position. Maddox McDonald hit a routine grounder to the mound and after Pirko threw him out at first, first basemen Robin Villeneuve caught Yaucher breaking too far off second for a double play.
Middle of 2nd inning: Texas Tech 6, Penn State 1
Smith hit a leadoff home run in the second inning.
End of 1st inning: Texas Tech 6, Penn State 0
Penn State starting pitcher Colin Fitzgerald threw 43 pitches in the first inning and retired only two batters. The Red Raiders got an RBI double from Shouse, a two-run double from Linkin Garcia, a run-scoring infield single by Ferraro and a two-run double by Quintanar. Mason Horwat replaced Fitzgerald with two outs and two on and got Tracer Lopez to fly out.
Texas Tech baseball batting order vs. Penn State
Kyeler Thompson, cf
Tracer Lopez, 2b
Connor Shouse, 3b
Logan Hughes, lf
Linkin Garcia, ss
Caden Ferraro, rf
Matt Quintanar, c
Davis Rivers, dh
Robin Villeneuve, 1b
Lukas Pirko, p
Texas Tech baseball vs. Penn State
∎ When: 2 p.m. Saturday, March 7; 1 p.m. Sunday, March 8
How to watch Texas Tech baseball vs. Penn State
∎ Online streaming: All games on ESPN+
Texas Tech baseball vs. Penn State pitching matchups
∎ Saturday: Texas Tech RHP Connor Mohan (0-1, 3.12) vs. Penn State RHP Ben Hudson (1-2, 2.16)
∎ Sunday: Texas Tech RHP Jonny Lowe (0-0, 0.00) vs. Penn State RHP Isaiah Shayter (0-1, 12.00)
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Kyeler Thompson has 4 hits as Texas Tech baseball tops Penn State
Reporting by Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
