Kyle Robinson was in the zone Saturday night in Stillwater.
The Texas Tech baseball starting pitcher lived up to the expectations of the Oklahoma State batting lineup the entire time he was on the mound, crushing a powerful Cowboy battery that hit seven home runs the night before.
By the time Robinson took the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning, he had set a career high with 11 strikeouts and the game was tied 2-2.
That’s when the situation became clear. Josh Saunders came out of the bullpen and got the first out, then allowed a single and a game-winning three-run homer to Carson Benge. Brendan Lysick similarly got the first out and walked the next batter before allowing a solo home run to Aidan Meola.
Robinson’s 119 pitches and new career mark weren’t enough to get the job done. Oklahoma State won 9-3, clinching the series victory for the Cowboys.
The final episode of the series is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. The Red Raiders (30-22, 12-17) have lost five straight and nine of their last 10 games.
Texas Tech got off to a much better start than in the series opener. Austin Green hit a two-run homer off a two-out error in the top of the first inning, giving the Red Raiders an early lead.
Colin Bruggeman responded with a two-out hit to the bottom of the frame, followed by a down-the-line double over a diving Gavin Kash to tie the score.
Robinson and Oklahoma State starting pitcher Brian Holiday then settled into a pitching battle. Holiday walked one batter and had 10 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.
Robinson left the game with a single in the bottom of the seventh inning, and the Cowboys scored four runs and took a 6-2 lead.
In the top of the 8th inning, Tracer Lopez took the lead with a solo home run. The Cowboys added three more runs in the bottom of the inning.
Texas Tech had 15 strikeouts in the game.
