Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Kansas St
Red Raiders Punish Kansas State 16-2
March 17, 2001 | Baseball
March 17, 2001
MANHATTAN, Kansas - Kansas State wore green hats in hopes of some St. Patrick's Day magic but there would be no luck of the Irish as the Red Raiders pounded out 15 hits and three home runs en route to a 16-2 win over the Wildcats at Frank Myers Field.
With the win, Texas Tech improves to 18-10 overall and 4-4 in the Big 12 while Kansas State falls to 6-11 overall and 1-7 in league play. Texas Tech is now on a season-high six-game winning streak and four-game win streak in the Big 12.
Texas Tech drew first blood when junior third baseman Nick Blankenship singled with two outs in the first inning plating Tyler Carson to give Tech a 1-0 lead. The Red Raiders pulled away in the second inning scoring seven runs on five hits. The inning was highlighted by a two-run single by junior catcher Tony Arnerich and a three-run home run by junior second baseman Bryon Smith. Smith's three-run home run was the second of the series as the Oklahoma City native connected on a three-run shot in the eighth inning of Friday's 7-0 shutout.
Freshman Brent Fossum hit his first career home run in the top of the third inning, a two run blast over the left field fence that plated Chad Landry and Fossum. Texas Tech continued its offensive onslaught in the seventh inning when Nick Blankenship hit his first career grand slam over the left field wall giving Tech a 16-0 advantage. The grand slam was Tech's second of the season.
Junior right-handed pitcher Chris Phillips (7-1) pitched six shutout inning allowing just two hits before Kansas State came to bat in the bottom of the seventh. A wild pitch by Phillips plated Kansas State's first run of the series to end Phillip's and Tech's hopes of back-to-back shutouts. Kansas State's Osmar Castillo hit an RBI single to give Kansas State its final run in the inning before inducing a groundout to Tech shortstop Gera Alvarez to end the game. The game was called in the seventh inning due to the Big 12 Conference run rule.
Chris Phillips earned his seventh win of the season and is now 2-0 in Big 12 play while Chad Duckers (2-2) suffered his second loss of the season for the Wildcats. Nick Blankenship led the Texas Tech offensive attack going 3 for 4 with five RBI and two runs scored. Gera Alvarez and Kerry Hodges each tallied three hits on the afternoon for the Red and Black.
Texas Tech and Kansas State will play the final game of the series on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Frank Myers Field in Manhattan. Texas Tech leads the series 2-0.
