Caleb Durbin launched two home runs and drove in four runs to lead Texas Tech to an 11-7 victory over Oklahoma State in Big 12 Conference play Friday night at Dan Law Field, extending the Red Raiders’ winning streak to six games.
The junior shortstop from Flower Mound, Texas, went 3-for-4 with a pair of two-run homers that broke open what had been a tight contest through five innings. His first blast, a 415-foot shot to right-center field, came in the fourth inning to give Tech a 4-2 lead. The second, an opposite-field drive that cleared the left field wall by 20 feet, capped a four-run sixth inning that put the game away.
Durbin’s Power Surge Continues Hot Start
The performance extended Durbin’s torrid start to the season. Through 28 games, he’s batting .347 with 11 home runs and 34 RBIs while playing stellar defense at shortstop. His 11 homers already match his total from last season in 15 fewer games.
“Caleb’s locked in right now,” Texas Tech head coach Tim Tadlock said after the game. “His approach at the plate has been outstanding, and he’s seeing the ball really well. When he gets his pitch, he’s not missing it.”
Durbin’s emergence has coincided with Texas Tech’s climb in the Big 12 standings. The Red Raiders (22-6, 6-2 Big 12) sit in second place behind TCU and have won 11 of their last 13 games. They entered Friday’s contest ranked 15th in the latest D1Baseball poll.
Cowboys Rally Falls Short
Oklahoma State (18-10, 3-5 Big 12) mounted several comeback attempts but couldn’t overcome Texas Tech’s offensive explosion. The Cowboys scored three runs in the seventh inning to cut the deficit to 8-6, highlighted by designated hitter Marcus Brown’s two-run double down the left field line.
But Tech responded immediately in the bottom half. Center fielder Dillon Carter singled home two insurance runs, and Durbin capped the rally with an RBI single through the left side of the infield.
Oklahoma State starter Jake Faherty lasted just 4.1 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits. The sophomore right-hander struck out five but walked four and hit two batters in his shortest outing of the season.
Red Raiders’ Balanced Attack
While Durbin provided the power, Texas Tech got contributions throughout the lineup. Third baseman Braxton Fulford went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, including a clutch two-out single in the fifth inning that scored the go-ahead run. Carter added three hits and scored twice from the leadoff spot.
On the mound, Tech starter Ryan Sublette earned the victory despite allowing four runs in 5.2 innings. The junior left-hander scattered nine hits but worked out of several jams, stranding seven Oklahoma State runners in scoring position.
“Ryan battled tonight,” Tadlock said. “He didn’t have his best stuff, but he competed and gave us a chance to win. That’s what veteran pitchers do.”
Big 12 Implications
The victory keeps Texas Tech in the hunt for a top-two finish in the Big 12, which would secure a spot in the conference tournament’s double-elimination bracket. With 10 conference games remaining, every series carries significant weight in the race for Omaha.
TCU leads the Big 12 at 7-1, followed by Texas Tech at 6-2. West Virginia (5-3) and Kansas (4-4) remain in contention for the top four spots that qualify for the Big 12 Tournament in Arlington, Texas.
For Oklahoma State, the loss drops the Cowboys to 3-5 in conference play and puts pressure on the remaining series. Head coach Josh Holliday’s squad entered the season with College World Series aspirations but has struggled with consistency in league play.
The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m., with Texas Tech sending sophomore right-hander Chandler Freeman (5-1, 2.89 ERA) to the mound against Oklahoma State’s Hueston Morrill (3-2, 4.12 ERA).
