Texas Tech University Athletics
Longhorns' Long Ball Downs Red Raiders
June 21, 1999 | Baseball
May 19, 1999
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.- First baseman Jeff Ontiveros of Texas launched a 420-foot homer into left-centerfield in the top of the ninth inning as his grand slam gave the Texas Longhorns (40-14) a 7-3 baseball victory over Texas Tech (35-22) in Game Four of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference tournament at Southwestern Bell Bricktown Ballpark Wednesday night.
Ontiveros' blast broke up a trio of pitching duels' games in which Nebraska and Baylor pitchers posted back-to-back one hitters earlier in the tournament.
Texas starter Dax Leone was cruising with a one-hit shutout through seven innings when the Red Raiders erupted for three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the contest. The Longhorns took a 3-0 lead after five innings and held it until Tech tied the contest in the eighth.
Longhorns' shortstop Jason Moore drove in two of the first three runs with a triple in the first inning before teammate Chris Houser forced home another run in the fifth with a run-scoring groundout.
Texas Tech countered off Leone and winning pitcher D.J. Jones (9-6) with a two-run double by shortstop Lance Woodcock in the eighth. Woodcock subsequently scored when an errant relay throw went into the Red Raiders' dugout after he reached third on an attempted throw to the plate.
Ontiveros decided his fourth Texas win of the season with a late-game home run as the Longhorns advanced to meet intrastate rival Baylor Thursday at 8 p.m. (CDT) in Game Eight of the eight-team tourney. Tech starter Shane Wright (9-4) was charged with the loss as he was repsponsible for two of the runners on base when relief pitcher Brandon Roberson allowed the slam by Ontiveros, a true freshman from Round Rock, Texas.
The Raiders battle with Missouri at 1 p.m. (CDT) Thursday in an elimination game.
For the day 35,864 fans purchased tickets in the 24th annual Big Eight or Big 12 Conference tornament held in Oklahoma City. The 1998 NCAA conference tournament drew 113,108 for 11 games.
