Texas Tech University Athletics
Rice Rallies Past Texas Tech 3-1 in NCAA Baseball
June 21, 1999 | Baseball
May 30, 1999
LUBBOCK (AP) - Rice (55-12) hit a two run homerun in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat Texas Tech and force a second championship game on Saturday night.
Rightfielder Will Ford went 3-for-4 and hit a two run homer with no outs in the ninth to give Texas Tech its first defeat of the tournament. The two squads will face off at 6:00 p.m. with the winner advancing to next week NCAA super regionals.
"These are two talented teams," said Tech pitcher Brad Ralston. "Both teams came in scratching and Rice wasn't looking to end their season."
Rice led 1-0 until the top of the ninth win Ryan Ruiz hit an RBI error off of Owl's second basemen Brett Smith that brought in pinch runner Chris Sampson to tie the game.
With the loss, Texas Tech fell to 42-16 on the season.
TEXAS TECH 000 000 001 1 5 0 RICE 100 000 002 3 8 22B - Smith (9) HR - Ford (10) W. Kurtz-Nich L. Brad Ralston
