Tracer Lopez is the increasingly rare college athlete who’s spent his entire career with one school, a four-year starter at second base for the Texas Tech baseball team.
On the other end of the spectrum is Logan Addison, a hard-throwing redshirt freshman. The Red Raiders would like to see him stick around from start to finish, too.
Both played key roles as Tech edged Brigham Young 2-1 on Thursday, May 7, in the opener of a three-game Big 12 series at Dan Law Field/Rip Griffin Park. In the sixth inning, Lopez tied the score with an RBI single and Logan Hughes hit his 15th home run.
Addison capped a night of strong pitching by the Red Raiders with two scoreless innings for his first career save. Kaysen Raineri, Jonny Lowe (3-1) and Addison held BYU (24-24, 12-13 in the Big 12) to four hits. Raineri had runners on in every inning, including two each in the first and the third, but left after five trailing 1-0.
“It was awesome watching these guys pitch,” Lopez said. “Kaysen did a great job. Jonny came right back off him, and (Addison) closed it out. They did a great job today, and they’ve been good for us all year.”
Tech (25-24, 8-17) is fighting to make the conference tournament, and it’s the last home series. That can’t be more poignant for any member of the current team than Lopez.
“It’s awesome,” he said. “I’m really just trying to live in the moment and live with my guys. (Tech coach Tim) Tadlock’s had me for four years here, and I thank God for everything he’s given me, being here. That’s really it — just enjoying it, just really enjoying it.”
In his past 17 games, the left-handed hitter from Cameron Yoe has had 13 multi-hit performances. He’s 33 for 67, a .493 average, during that stretch.
On the Tech career records list, Lopez has tied Randy DuRoss for fifth in hits with 235 (Josh Jung’s fourth with 260) and tied Michael Davis and Madison Edwards for fourth in games played with 212 (Taylor Ashby’s third with 216).
“Like I said, Tad’s given me the chance for four years,” Lopez said. “Just really glory to God putting me in the position I am now. I’m not really worried about going up the rankings. I’m just worried about day by day and trying to win.”
Addison is just starting his journey and doing it in front of friends and family for the team he grew up watching. The New Home graduate used to enjoy watching Tech all-Americans Josh and Jace Jung, both now Major Leaguers.
“They were superstars here,” Addison said, “so it was fun to watch them. Want to be as big as them for Texas Tech one day, hopefully, so I just enjoyed watching how the crowd reacted to them. It was a lot of fun feeling that tonight.”
Addison worked around two walks and struck out three of the seven batters he faced, including Tualau Wolfgramm to end it.
He’s gradually taken on a larger role this season with seven pitchers injured, including some key members of the bullpen.
“The one thing about this year is he’s had some opportunities,” Tadlock said. “He’s had some up and down, but he’s pitched in some high-leverage spots. Not saying he’s by any means a finished product, but he’s getting confidence as we go. Guys have done a good job giving him weapons, adding to his arsenal to be able to keep guys off-balance. He’s got a good arm, and the more he pitches ahead, the better he’s going to be.”
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Tracer Lopez, Logan Addison fuel Texas Tech baseball win over BYU
Reporting by Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
