2024 Shriners Children's College Showdown

Texas Tech Baseball Recap: Red Raiders Defeat Nebraska At College Showdown

Texas Tech Baseball Recap: Red Raiders Defeat Nebraska At College Showdown

The second day of action at the 2024 Shriners Children’s College Showdown included a ninth-inning rally and 6-3 win for Texas Tech over Nebraska.

Feb 18, 2024 by Matt Cannizzaro
Texas Tech Baseball Recap: Red Raiders Defeat Nebraska At College Showdown

Texas Tech was able to capitalize on a series of Nebraska mistakes Saturday to come away with a victory on the second day of competition at the 2024 Shriners Children’s College Showdown in Arlington, Texas.

The game was tied at 3-3 heading into the final inning at Globe Life Field, when the Red Raiders broke things open with a three-run rally, before holding the Huskers scoreless in the bottom half of the ninth inning.

The one-out surge for Texas Tech started with a walk, the first issued by Nebraska in the game.

The free pass was followed by an infield single by freshman TJ Pompey, a wild pitch, additional singles by Tracer Lopez and Austin Green and two more walks, the second of which came with the bases loaded.

When Lopez, a sophomore, stepped up to deliver the go-ahead RBI, he was 0 for 8 on the young season. 

Green, Pompey, Drew Woodcox and Owen Washburn each had two hits for Texas Tech, which had 11 hits in the win, while Damian Bravo was the only Red Raider to score twice. 

Texas Tech opened the scoring with two runs in the second inning and added another in the third, before the offense went silent for five consecutive innings. 

Nebraska scored one run in the second, third and fifth innings, with four Texas Tech pitchers allowing the Huskers to tally 10 hits.

Zane Petty was the starter for the Red Raiders and struggled with his control across two innings. He was responsible for all four of the team’s walks and two of the three Nebraska runs. 

Mac Heuer, Ryan Free and Parker Hutyra all saw action for Texas Tech, with Free taking the win and Hutyra earning the save. 

Texas Tech is 1-1 on the season, having lost to Tennessee on Friday night, 6-2.

The Red Raiders will close out their 2024 Shriners Children’s College Showdown against Oregon on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.

Nebraska was looking to start a season with back-to-back wins for the first time since 2018, a thought that became possible with a 4-1 victory against Baylor at Globe Life Field on Friday.

Instead, the Huskers saw things unravel in a wild final inning that included three pitchers.

Nebraska used six pitchers in the game, with sophomore right-hander Mason McConnaughey taking the brunt of the damage, despite only one inning of work. He was the losing pitcher in the contest, giving up two runs, one hit and one walk, while striking out two Red Raiders.

Will Walsh started the game for Nebraska and went 5 2/3 innings, which included seven hits, three earned runs and four strikeouts.

Offensively for Nebraska, junior Joshua Overbeek shined, going 4 for 5 with a run scored. Junior Riley Silva also had two hits for the Huskers in the loss.

Now 1-1 in 2024, Nebraska will look to leave Arlington with a winning record by beating Oklahoma on Sunday morning at 11:30 a.m. Eastern.  

The event includes six championship-caliber teams from four conferences that have converged on Arlington’s Globe Life Field, the home of the recent World Series-winning Texas Rangers.

In Nebraska's win against Baylor on Friday, the game was scoreless through five innings, before each team notched a run in the sixth.

The Huskers added another run in the eighth inning and two in the ninth to secure the victory, despite having two less hits (7-5) than the Bears. 

In the last of the three games Friday at Globe Life Field, Texas Tech was shut down by a near-dominant Tennessee pitching performance that featured 17 strikeouts. 

Texas Tech sent seven pitchers to the mound against Tennessee, with starter Kyle Robinson taking the loss. The junior right-hander surrendered four hits and three earned runs in 3 2/3 innings of work, while striking out four and walking two. 

The Red Raiders collectively gave up eight hits in the 6-2 loss, while walking five, hitting one batter and striking out 10. 

Texas Tech is playing in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown for the third time and coming off a 41-23 season that ended at the hands of national runner-up Florida. 

Coming into the 2024 meeting, Texas Tech is ranked No. 22 in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll, while Nebraska did not make it onto the list.

The Red Raiders and Huskers do have a storied history that includes 53 previous meetings. Nebraska holds a 32-21 advantage in the series, including a 2-1 win over the No. 3-ranked Red Raiders at the Frisco College Baseball Classic in March 2019.

The Shriners event is the first action of two exciting weeks of college baseball at Globe Life Field. It will be followed by the Kubota College Baseball Series, which includes Mid-Week Games (Feb. 20-21), Weekend 2 (Feb. 23-25) and Weekend 3 (March 1-3).

Following the Shriners Children’s College Showdown, Texas Tech will remain in town for the Mid-Week Games, where the Red Raiders will face UT Arlington (Feb. 20) and Oregon State (Feb. 21). They will be joined by Oklahoma State and Abilene Christian. 

Follow the action live, as FloBaseball provides news and notes from all of the games at the 2024 Shriners Children’s College Showdown.

Texas Tech Defeats Nebraska 6-3 At 2024 Shriners Children's College Showdown

Box Score

Team123456789RunsHitsErrorsLOB
Texas Tech02100000361118
Nebraska01101000031009

Texas Tech Holds Off Nebraska Baseball To Secure First Win Of 2024

Nebraska got a pair of hits and made some noise in its final inning against Texas Tech, but the Red Raiders were able to hold off the Huskers.

Sophomore Dylan Carey flied out with runners on first and third to end the game. 

Freshman Parker Hutyra pitched the final inning for Texas Tech and picked up the save.

Texas Tech Baseball Pulls Ahead In Ninth Inning Against Nebraska

After a walk (Damian Bravo), an infield single (TJ Pompey) and a wild pitch by Mason McConnaughey, Texas Tech found itself with runners on second and third with just one out and managed to capitalize in a big way.

The walk was the first of the game for Nebraska.

After getting his second strikeout of the inning, McConnaughey leaves the game. He's replaced by sophomore left-hander Jalen Worthley for a lefty-lefty matchup with Tracer Lopez, who singles up the middle to score Bravo.

Austin Green adds an opposite-field single to right field to score Pompey and give the Red Raiders an insurance run with a 5-3 lead. Green is 2 for 2 off the bench for Texas Tech.

With two outs and runners on first and third, Kevin Bazzell walks to load the bases.

Gavin Kash draws a bases-loaded walk to score Lopez and extend the Texas Tech lead to 6-3.

Worthley leaves the game for Nebraska, and the Huskers bring on their sixth pitcher of the day, graduate right-hander Bobby Olsen. Olsen ends the inning with a strikeout. 

Red Raiders lead 6-3.

Texas Tech Baseball And Nebraska Head To Ninth Inning Knotted At 3-3

Texas Tech's Ryan Free gets three Huskers to ground out in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Senior pinch hitter Cole Evans did deliver a two-out base hit for a brief spark for Nebraska. He also stole second base.

Freshman Will Jesske, making his first collegiate at-bat, grounded out to second base to end the inning.

Texas Tech Has Fast Start, Nebraska Uses Three Pitchers, Game Still Tied 

Pinch hitter Austin Green kicked off the Texas Tech eighth inning with a double to right field.

Though not in serious trouble, Nebraska's Ty Horn leaves the game with one out and a runner on second base.

Junior left-hander Jackson Brockett takes the mound for the Huskers for a lefty-lefty matchup with Gavin Kash, who grounds out to first base but advances Green to third.

That ends the day for Brockett, who is replaced by sophomore right-hander Mason McConnaughey. He enters with two outs and a runner on third and ends the inning with a groundout to short.

Nebraska Can't Capitalize Against Texas Tech Baseball

A single and a sacrifice bunt put Nebraska in position to pull ahead against Texas Tech, but Ryan Free shut the door on that idea, striking out Joshua Overbeek to end the inning and the threat.

The game remains 3-3 heading into the top of the eighth inning at Globe Life Field. 

Time For Seventh-Inning Stretch In Nebraska Baseball Vs. Texas Tech Game

Ty Horn mows down two Red Raiders to start the bottom of the sixth inning and retires Texas Tech 1-2-3 in his first full inning of work.

Sixth-Inning Surge For Nebraska Baseball Turns Into Nothing Against Texas Tech

Nebraska opens its sixth inning with back-to-back singles (Josh Caron and Tyler Stone) and a sacrifice bunt to put those two runners in scoring position. 

That's all Texas Tech freshman Mac Heuer will see of the Huskers, as he leaves the game with two on and one out. He pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and one run, while striking out two.

Senior left-hander Ryan Free takes the mound for the Red Raiders and shuts down the rally.

Nebraska-Texas Tech Still Tied At Globe Life Field Heading Into The Bottom Of The Sixth Inning

After two quick outs to start the sixth inning against Texas Tech, Nebraska starter Will Walsh's day on the mound comes to an end.

In 5 2/3 innings, he gave up seven hits and three earned runs, while striking out four and walking none. He threw 85 pitches, 58 of which were strikes. 

Freshman right-hander Ty Horn takes the mound for the Huskers with two outs and a runner on first. He ends the inning with a fielder's choice at second. 

Nebraska Ties Contest With Two-Out Fifth-Inning Rally Against Texas Tech

After two quick outs, Nebraska rallied against Texas Tech and was able to tie the game at 3-3.

Joshua Overbeek singles, steals second and advances to third base on a throwing error. He scores on a Dylan Carey single to tie the game. 

Carey is caught stealing to end the inning.

Much Of The Same For Texas Tech In Fifth Inning Against Nebraska Baseball

Texas Tech is retired in order again in the fifth inning.

Nebraska starter Will Walsh has given up six hits and three earned runs, while striking out three Red Raiders, but his last two innings have been stellar. 

Huskers Silent In Fourth Inning Against Texas Tech Baseball

After a chaotic third inning that allowed Nebraska to cut into its deficit against Texas Tech, the Huskers were retired in order in their half of the fourth inning.

Texas Tech leads 3-2 heading into the fifth.

Nebraska Baseball Makes Quick Work Of Red Raiders In Fourth Inning

Damian Bravo looked to have legged out an infield single to open the inning, but the play is overturned, denying Bravo his second hit of the game.

Will Walsh capitalizes for Nebraska, turning it into the first 1-2-3 inning of the day for either team. 

Nebraska Baseball Cuts Into Texas Tech Lead At Globe Life Field

The control issues continue for Texas Tech pitcher Zane Petty, who opens the third inning with another walk, his fourth of the game.

Freshman right-hander Mac Heuer takes the mound for his collegiate debut. He takes over with no outs and a runner on first base. 

The first batter of Heuer's career, Joshua Overbeek, knocks his second single of the game. Heuer follows that by hitting Dylan Carey to load the bases. 

An unassisted 5-3 double play gets two outs on the board, but it does allow Cayden Brumbaugh to score from third. Texas Tech leads 3-2.

The inning ends with Heuer's first strikeout.

Red Raiders Answer Against Nebraska Baseball In Top Of Third Inning

Back-to-back singles by Drew Woodcox and Kevin Bazzell gives Texas Tech runners on first and third with no outs.

Woodcox scores on a sacrifice fly by Cade McGee to extend the Texas Tech lead to 3-1. 

Texas Tech Opens Door For Nebraska Baseball In Bottom Of Second Inning

Zane Petty opened the second inning by walking two consecutive Huskers, an uncharacteristic result, as Petty only walked 15 batters in 2023.

A flyout by Gabe Swanson put runners on the corners with one out, before Petty walked another batter to load the bases. 

On a bases-loaded grounder up the middle, Texas Tech makes the play to first, which allows Josh Caron to score Nebraska's first run.

Petty gets out of the inning without any additional damage.

Texas Tech leads 2-1.

Texas Tech Opens Scoring Against Nebraska Baseball, Red Raiders Lead 2-0

Texas Tech gets on the board first, as three consecutive hits by Owen Washburn (single), Damian Bravo (single) and freshman TJ Pompey (double), allow Washburn to score.

Pompey, who had a two-run triple Friday against Tennessee, ripped his shot down the third base line, and it ricocheted off the third baseman and into the stands, allowing each runner to advance.

Bravo is able to score on a Will Burns sacrifice fly. 

The innings ends with Texas Tech leading 2-0.

Bottom Of First Inning Ends With Double Play For Texas Tech

Nebraska also picked up a hit in the first inning, a single by junior Joshua Overbeek, but the inning ended with a double play on a line drive to third base, as Overbeek was caught off of first base.

Top Of First Inning Quiet For Texas Tech Baseball Against Nebraska

The Red Raiders picked up the game's first hit in the top of the first inning, a single from senior Drew Woodcox, but that's all that was happening. 

Walsh faced four batters and got three outs through the air.

Texas Tech And Nebraska Baseball Underway In Arlington

The Red Raiders and Huskers are getting down to business at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, for their Day 2 matchup at the 2024 Shriners Children's College Showdown.

Redshirt junior Will Walsh (LHP) is on the mound for Nebraska (home team), while sophomore right-hander Zane Petty will get the start for Texas Tech (visitor). 

Texas Tech Starting Lineup Against Nebraska

The Red Raiders are in search of their first win in 2024. Here's how they plan to get it done:

The Starting Lineup For Nebraska Against Texas Tech

See who will be handling business for the Huskers on Saturday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

When Is The Texas Tech Baseball Vs. Nebraska Game?

Texas Tech will take on Nebraska at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 4 p.m. Eastern.

How To Watch The Texas Tech Vs. Nebraska Baseball Game

Watch the 2024 Shriners Children’s College Showdown on FloBaseball and the FloSports app.

Replays, highlights and breaking news from the event will be on both platforms

FloBaseball will be streaming several NCAA Division I college baseball tournaments, including the 2024 Sanderson Ford College Classic and the 2024 Kubota College Baseball Series.

Check Out The First Home Run For Nebraska Baseball In 2024

Garrett Anglim got just enough of this one Friday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. It was the Huskers’ first home run of the 2024 season and an insurance run in their 4-1 victory over Baylor.

Texas Tech Flashes Some Leather Against Tennessee

Though the game ultimately didn’t end in Texas Tech’s favor, there were some reel-worthy moments for the Red Raiders in their season-opening matchup with Tennessee. Check this out:

Nebraska Baseball’s Hot Start In 2024

In Nebraska’s 4-1 win over Baylor on Friday at the 2024 Shriners Children’s College Showdown, senior right-hander Brett Sears got the Opening-Day start for the Huskers, and though he was solid, he did not earn a decision.

Sears tossed 5 1/3 innings, surrendering three hits and one earned run, while striking out seven and walking none. 

The win went to freshman right-hander Tucker Timmerman, who pitched 1 2/3 innings. He gave up two hits but kept the Bears scoreless. Junior RHP Casey Daiss pitched an inning and earned the save. 

Graduate left-hander Kyle Perry also got an inning of work for the Huskers on Friday. 

What Teams Are Playing In the 2024 College Showdown And Kubota College Baseball Series?

Here are the teams: 

  • University of Oklahoma
  • Texas Tech University
  • Baylor University
  • University of Tennessee
  • University of Nebraska
  • University of Oregon
  • University of Arkansas
  • Oklahoma State University
  • University of Michigan
  • Oregon State University 
  • TCU 
  • Texas A&M
  • University of Southern California 
  • Arizona State University

2024 Shriners Children’s College Showdown Schedule

All times Eastern

Friday, Feb. 16 

  • Noon. – Nebraska vs. Baylor 
  • 4 p.m. – Oregon vs. Oklahoma 
  • 8 p.m. – Tennessee vs. Texas Tech

Saturday, Feb. 17 

  • Noon – Baylor vs. Oregon 
  • 4 p.m. – Texas Tech vs. Nebraska 
  • 8 p.m. – Oklahoma vs. Tennessee

Sunday, Feb. 18 

  • 11:30 a.m. – Nebraska vs. Oklahoma 
  • 3:30 p.m. – Oregon vs. Texas Tech 
  • 7:30 p.m. – Tennessee vs. Baylor

2024 Kubota College Baseball Series Weekend 2 Schedule 

All times Eastern

Friday, Feb. 23 

  • 4 p.m. – Michigan vs. Oklahoma State 
  • 8 p.m. – Oregon State vs. Arkansas

Saturday, Feb. 24 

  • 4 p.m. – Michigan vs. Oregon State 
  • 8 p.m. – Arkansas vs. Oklahoma State

Sunday, Feb. 25 

  • 2 p.m. – Arkansas vs. Michigan 
  • 6 p.m. – Oklahoma State vs. Oregon State

2024 Kubota College Baseball Series Weekend 3 Schedule 

All times Eastern

Friday, March 1 

  • 3 p.m. – USC vs. TCU 
  • 7 p.m. – Arizona State vs. Texas A&M

Saturday, March 2 

  • 3 p.m. – Texas A&M vs. USC 
  • 7 p.m. – TCU vs. Arizona State

Sunday, March 3 

  • 12 p.m. – Arizona State vs. Texas A&M 
  • 4 p.m. – USC vs. TCU

FloBaseball Archived Footage

Video footage from past seasons is archived and stored in a video library for FloBaseball subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

College Baseball Rankings 2024: Preseason USA Today Coaches Poll

  1. Wake Forest, 751, 15
  2. LSU, 731, 11
  3. Florida, 727, 5
  4. Arkansas, 672, 0
  5. TCU, 643, 0
  6. Vanderbilt, 576, 0
  7. Oregon State, 543, 0
  8. Tennessee, 529, 0
  9. Clemson, 484, 0
  10. Texas A&M, 468, 0
  11. Virginia, 431, 0
  12. East Carolina, 391, 0
  13. Texas, 381, 0
  14. Duke, 351, 0
  15. North Carolina, 342, 0
  16. North Carolina State, 289, 0
  17. Alabama, 197, 0
  18. UC Santa Barbara, 187, 0
  19. Coastal Carolina, 187, 0
  20. Iowa, 186, 0
  21. South Carolina, 169, 0
  22. Texas Tech, 157, 0
  23. Stanford, 121, 0
  24. UCLA, 80, 0
  25. Northeastern, 71, 0

Others Receiving Votes: Kansas State 65; UC Irvine 51; Oregon 42; Oklahoma State 41; Auburn 35; Southern Miss 21; Dallas Baptist 21; Troy 19; Ole Miss 16; Florida State 13; UNCW 12; Arizona 10; Oral Roberts 9; Indiana State 8; Connecticut 7; USC 6; Georgia 6; Campbell 6; Kentucky 5; West Virginia 4; Indiana 4; Georgia Tech 4; Maryland 3; Hawaii 3.

Texas Tech At Globe Life Field

Being just a few hours from the Dallas-Fort Worth area has allowed Texas Tech to make frequent trips from Lubbock. 

Unfortunately, the Red Raiders haven’t done as well as they would’ve hoped in those visits, posting a 4-9 record in the home stadium of the Texas Rangers prior to 2024.

With the loss to Tennessee on Friday, Texas Tech now is 1-6 at Globe Life Field in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown, though five of those six losses came against ranked opponents. 

Nebraska Baseball At Globe Life Field

This year marks the first appearance for Nebraska at the Shriners Children's College Showdown, though its their second visit to Globe Life Field, where faced TCU in a three-game series during the 2022 season.

That year, the Huskers lost all three games to a TCU squad that was ranked No. 17 at the time. 

Globe Life Field is the seventh MLB ballpark the Huskers have played in since 2000. Counting Friday's win, they are 23-17 in 40 games. 

Join The College Baseball Conversation On Social