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Kyle Robinson's quality start at UCF goes unrewarded | Texas Tech baseball takeaways
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- Kyle Robinson's quality start at UCF goes unrewarded | Texas Tech baseball takeaways
New Big 12 member Central Florida already had shown its baseball merit with non-conference victories this season against Miami and Florida and conference series victories so far against Oklahoma State and Kansas .
The Knights are making the Texas Tech baseball team their next victim.
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Dom Stagliano and Big 12 saves leader Chase Centala scattered five hits, and the Knights beat the Red Raiders 2-1 Friday to clinch the series. UCF (18-6, 6-5) rallied for a 5-4 victory in Thursday's opener and will go for a sweep at noon CDT Saturday .
Second baseman T.J. Pompey had three hits for Tech (18-9, 4-7). The Red Raiders didn't have more than one runner on base in an inning until the seventh when Owen Washburn doubled with one out, chasing Stagliano, and Pompey singled him home.
Stagliano (1-1) allowed three hits over 6 1/3 innings. Centala got the last eight outs for his sixth save.
Here are key takeaways:
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Related: Kevin Bazzell regaining his stroke as Texas Tech baseball wins series
Related: Kyle Robinson pitches a gem at Baylor | Texas Tech baseball takeaways
Texas Tech wastes strong pitching
Kyle Robinson (3-3) went six innings and allowed two runs on five hits. Trendan Parish also gave his team a chance, retiring all but one batter in his two innings.
It was the third consecutive quality start for Robinson. He pitched seven scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory two weeks ago at Baylor and allowed one unearned run in six innings last week against Brigham Young.
Is it getting late early for the Texas Tech baseball team?
March might seem early to discuss a team's postseason chances, but Texas Tech has three series losses in the first four weeks of Big 12 play. The Red Raiders went into Friday at No. 77 in the RPI, a metric that carries weight in NCAA tournament consideration.
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UCF went into Friday at No. 5 in the RPI. Earlier in the week, Tech coach Tim Tadlock cited the Knights' lofty rating as "a good opportunity for us." So far, the Red Raiders haven't cashed in on the opportunity.
Texas Tech defense prevents a big inning
Third baseman Cade McGee and right fielder Owen Washburn each threw out a runner on the bases in the sixth inning, limiting UCF to one run.
The Knights had runners at the corners with no outs, and Danny Neri delivered a run-scoring single to right. But McGee's relay throw home cut down Andrew Sundean. Neri took second on the play, but then Washburn threw out Neri at third on a fly ball to right.
Texas Tech pitcher Kyle Robinson (42) made his third consecutive quality start Friday in Orlando, Florida, but Central Florida beat the Red Raiders 2-1.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Kyle Robinson's strong start at UCF wasted | Texas Tech baseball takeaways
