CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) - Eric Gutierrez’s one-out double scored Zach Davis with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday, and Texas Tech defeated Columbia 3-2 in the first game of the Coral Gables regional.
Davis entered as a pinch-runner for Stephen Smith, who led off the inning with a walk. A sacrifice moved Davis to second, and he reached third when Lions second baseman Will Savage misplayed a grounder, putting runners at the corners.
Adam Kirsch homered and Jonny Drodz (7-0) shut out Columbia over the final 3 2-3 innings. The Red Raiders (41-18) will play Saturday night against Miami.
Columbia (29-19) faces Bethune-Cookman in an elimination game.
Thomas Crispi (3-2) walked three and gave up two hits and one run in 2 1-3 innings.
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