2016 CWS: Historic Season Comes To An End For Texas Tech

OMAHA–Texas Tech came to the College World Series for the first time in program history in 2014. It was a quick trip, as the Red Raiders went two-and-out on the sport’s grandest stage.

Two years later, the Red Raiders were back in the CWS, this time as the Big 12 Conference champions and the No. 5 national seed. They had aspirations of a long stay in Omaha.

Much as in its first CWS appearance, Texas Tech began this year’s series with a loss to Texas Christian. But it bounced back to win an elimination game Tuesday against Florida, the No. 1 national seed, giving the program its first-ever CWS victory.

But Texas Tech was unable to continue to play its way through the losers’ bracket. Against Coastal Carolina on Thursday, it lost, 7-5, bringing an end to its CWS run. Though 2016 will go down as one of the best seasons in program history, the Red Raiders were disappointed by its finish.

“Unfortunately, that’s not all they were shooting for,” Tadlock said. “But it was quite an accomplishment for this group to get here. They overcame a lot to get here.

“It’s no fun going home after two (games), it’s really not. It’s not fun going home, period. It’s not what you want when you come up here. You want to play to the last day and you obviously want to win the last day. If you don’t . . . really in that locker room, that’s what they wanted.”

All-American first baseman Eric Gutierrez, the Big 12 player of the year, saw his storied career come to an end Thursday. He went 2-for-4 with a walk, but his final plate appearance in a Red Raiders uniform was a ground out to lead off the ninth inning.

Gutierrez said while it hurt knowing that his college career was over, he is optimistic about the program’s future.

“I know this team’s going to be back next year,” he said. “And a couple of years, it’s not going to be–it’s going to be expected to be here every year competing for the national championship.”

Tadlock has quickly built a force in Lubbock since returning to his alma mater after the 2012 season. He is the first coach in Big 12 history to lead his team to the CWS twice in his first four seasons with a program. The Red Raiders will lose several veteran players from this year’s team–a program-record 10 players were drafted earlier this month and Gutierrez was one of four seniors in Thursday’s starting lineup–but they also have a strong core coming back.

Texas Tech became the first team in the last 30 years to use three different freshmen starting pitchers in the CWS. With its youthful pitching staff and three sophomores in its lineup (including shortstop Orlando Garcia and center fielder Tanner Gardner), Texas Tech is well set up for 2017 and beyond.

Junior righthander Ryan Moseley was drafted in the eighth round by the Orioles and will soon start his professional career. But he is eager to watch how the Red Raiders build on the foundation he and his teammates have laid.

“Since my freshman year, we just keep getting higher and higher on the recruiting stuff,” Moseley said. “It’s huge for that so Tech can be great for years on. It’s just huge. I’m glad I can be a part of that to help them continue to grow for the next few years so I can keep watching.”

The future is bright for Texas Tech, but the players moving on have meant a lot to the program. Gutierrez came to Lubbock as an undersized first baseman with only one Division I scholarship offer. He leaves as one of the greatest players in program history.

Under Tadlock’s direction, the Red Raiders veterans, such as Gutierrez and outfielder Stephen Smith, have taken the program to new heights.

“Me, Eric, (Tyler Neslony), we’ve all done a lot for this program,” Smith said. “And we’ve put Lubbock, Texas, on the map. And Gute being the Big 12 player of the year, he’s been a starter for four years, he hasn’t come off the field. He’s done a lot for this program.”

The team that went further than any other in program history was also particularly close to each other, which will make the goodbyes that face the Red Raiders when they return to Lubbock difficult. But long after they have scattered to summer ball and the minor leagues, and the disappointment from Thursday has faded, this Texas Tech team will be fondly remembered.

“It’s a lot of fun going to the ballpark every day,” Tadlock said. “These guys, they like to work at it. They show up. They’ve been good. They’ve been good in all phases. They’ve been good in the classroom. We’ve had two or three semesters in a row, I’m not sure this semester, but 3.0 team GPA. Guys have represented Texas Tech the right way.”