Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Houston
Tech Falls Prey To Cougar Onslaught 11-5
February 04, 2001 | Baseball
Feb. 4, 2001
HOUSTON, Texas - The Houston Cougars took advantage of three Texas Tech errors and put up 13 hits en route to an 11-5 win over the Red Raiders in the Astros College Classic on Sunday.
With the loss, Tech falls to 3-2 on the year marking the worst start since going 3-2 to start the 1995 campaign. Texas Tech rebounded in 1995 to finish the year with a 51-14 record. The Houston Cougars improved to 2-1 on the year after beating Texas on Saturday night 3-2.
Houston got the early lead scoring two runs in the top of the first inning when Gabe Lucas and Hyung Cho got consecutive RBI hits. Tech evened the score in its half of the inning thanks to RBI singles by Austin Cranford and Kerry Hodges.
Tech had a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the third when the Red Raiders had the bases loaded with just one out. First baseman Stephen Leist fouled out to third base and Jason Rainey was put out at second on a fielder's choice to end the inning.
It was all Houston after that point as the Cougars scored five runs in the top of the fourth to seal the win. The Cougars added four runs in the last three innings while Tech managed just three. Junior Nick Blankenship struckout three times and advanced on a hit-by-pitch in his first four at-bats but saved the best for last as he hit a two-run home run over the right field fence in the bottom of the ninth.
"We obviously have a lot that we need to work on but it is nothing that we can't fix," said Tech head coach Larry Hays. "We need to be able to get on the field this week which is something we haven't been able to do much this spring because of the weather. We got to see some great competition this weekend and are looking forward to returning home and playing four games with the lessons that we learned here."
Senior Brandon Roberson (0-1) took the loss for Tech while Gene Flores (1-0) earned the win for Houston.
Texas Tech will look forward to a four-game homestretch that begins with West Texas A&M on Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. Tech will then play host to Cal-State Northridge in a three-game series this weekend.
