Texas Tech University Athletics
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Raiders Overcome Four-Run Deficit, Beat Texas 6-5
March 10, 2001 | Baseball
March 10, 2001
AUSTIN, Texas - Jason Rainey scored on a balk in the top of the 10th inning breaking a 5-5 tie to give the Red Raiders a 6-5 win over the Texas Longhorns at Disch-Falk Field on Saturday afternoon. The win snapped a five-game Texas Tech losing streak.
With the win Texas Tech (13-10,1-4)) earned its first conference win of the season while at the same time handing the Texas Longhorns (13-10,4-1) their first Big 12 loss.
Texas scored the first run of the ballgame for the second time of the series off an error by Tech second baseman Byron Smith that allowed Ben King to score. Texas Tech tied the game in the top of the third inning when Tony Arnerich hit a solo home run over the left field fence earning the first homer for either team of the series.
Texas scored four runs in the third and fourth innings to take a 5-1 lead. Texas' bunt offense proved deadly for the Red Raiders during that two-inning stretch as the Longhorns tallied two safe hits on bunt tries as the Red Raider defense was unable to field the ball either time.
Just as things seemed to be out of control for Texas Tech, the Red Raiders rallied in the top of the sixth inning by scoring four runs to tie the game. Tyler Carson had the chance to give Tech the lead off a right field single by Tony Arnerich but he was called out at home on the 9-2 putout. The umpire ruled that Carson did not touch the plate on the slide. The biggest sigh of relief for Tech came when Kerry Hodges snapped an 18 at-bat hitting slump with a two-RBI single to left field with the bases loaded and no outs that plated Bryon Smith and Stephen Leist.
The game remained scoreless over the next three innings sending the game to extra innings for the second straight day. Texas Tech scored on a balk call in the top of the 10th giving the Red Raiders a 6-5 lead going into the bottom of the 10th. Tech pitcher Chris Phillips, now in his 10th inning of work, hit pinch hitter Ryan Hubele putting him on first base with one out in the inning. Texas Tech finally got the break they were looking for over the last five games when catcher Sam Anderson hit into a double play to end the game.
Chris Phillips (6-1) threw a career-high 10 innings giving up 11 hits, five runs and three strikeouts to earn his sixth win of the season. Kevin Frizzell (2-1) earned his first loss of the season for Texas.
Texas Tech and Texas will square off in the rubber match of the series on Sunday at Disch-Falk Field beginning at 1 p.m. The series is currently tied at 1-1.
