The 25th-ranked Texas Tech baseball team was worried about getting in its road series against Baylor with the National Weather Service forecasting rain all weekend in Waco.
On Friday night, the Red Raiders were happier about more than merely playing. They won the series opener 2-0 with Kyle Robinson and reliever Josh Sanders combining on a four-hit shutout at Baylor Ballpark.
Robinson (3-2) matched a career high with eight strikeouts, and Sanders pitched two innings for his first save.
Tech (14-4, 2-2 in the Big 12) handed Baylor (5-12, 0-4) its fifth loss in six games.
The two teams are scheduled to play again at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday, though weather remains a concern with an 80-percent chance of precipitation on Saturday and a 40-percent chance on Sunday.
Here are the Red Raiders’ key developments from Friday’s game.
Welcome back, Kevin Bazzell
Out since March 1 because of an undisclosed illness and a protocol recovery period, Bazzell returned to the lineup after missing nine games.
Bazzell, normally the team’s starting catcher, was the designated hitter in his first game back. Batting in his usual spot in the order, the 3-hole, he had a single in four at-bats.
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Kyle Robinson gives a career-best performance
Texas Tech’s junior righthander went a career-high seven innings, allowing three hits and two walks and striking out eight. Tech coach Tim Tadlock lifted Robinson after 114 pitches.
Given a lead after one inning, Robinson protected it in a pitchers’ duel against Mason Marriott (0-3), who went five innings, and relievers Ethan Calder and Drew Leach.
Robinson’s earned-run average went from 3.14 to 8.00 in a rough start last week against Texas, but he lowered it back to 5.76.
Cade McGee, Dylan Maxcey continue to do what they do
With the bases loaded in the first inning, McGee was hit by a pitch for the 14th time this season. He went into Friday tied for the lead in that category in NCAA Division I.
Maxcey delivered an RBI double with two outs in the fourth inning, at the time raising his average to .417. The sophomore catcher has taken advantage of the opportunity he had when Kevin Bazzell missed the first nine games in March. Maxcey played in only three games in February, getting six at-bats, but now has three home runs and 15 runs batted in.
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