Texas Tech University Athletics
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Kansas
Tech Baseball Rallies For 3-2 Win Over Kansas
April 29, 2001 | Baseball
April 29, 2001
LUBBOCK, Texas - Kansas first baseman Kevin Wheeler misplayed a routinely hit ball by Tyler Carson down the right field line that allowed two Texas Tech runs to score in the bottom of the eighth giving the Red Raiders a 3-2 win over the Jayhawks before 3,427 fans at Dan Law Field. Texas Tech claimed the series sweep with Sunday's win.
With the win, Texas Tech maintains sole possession of third place in the Big 12 and stands at 35-15-1 overall and 17-9-1 in the league. Kansas fell to 19-29 overall and 5-22 in the Big 12 standings.
Kansas scored the first run of the game when John Nelson scored on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Jesse Gremminger. Nelson got on base in the leadoff at-bat when Tech shortstop Gera Alvarez bobbled the throw to first base allowing Nelson to reach safely on the error. Texas Tech took the lead in the bottom of the fourth by scoring two runs on three hits and one Jayhawk error. Kerry Hodges scored the first run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to center field that plated Alvarez. Junior catcher Tony Arnerich drove in the second run of the inning on an RBI single to left field that scored Nick Blankenship.
Kansas answered in its half of the fifth when John Nelson hit the first RBI single by a Jayhawk batter in the series when he hit a line drive to right center scoring Kevin Farmer. The Jayhawks took the lead in the top of the eighth on yet another sacrifice fly when Casey Spanish brought home third baseman Ryan Klocksien to put Kansas in the lead 3-2.
Kansas reliever Justin Wilcher loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth before being replaced by Randy Strann. First baseman Kevin Wheeler misplayed a routinely hit ball by Tyler Carson that plated two Red Raider runs giving Tech a 4-3 advantage going into the top of the ninth.
Senior Blake McGinley (2-3) allowed two Kansas runners to reach base before being replaced by junior Steve Rowe with one out in the inning. Rowe retired the next two Jayhawk batters to pick up his first save of the season.
Senior Blake McGinley (2-3) earned the win for Texas Tech while Justin Wilcher suffered the loss for Kansas and fell to 2-9 on the year. Texas Tech will complete its regular-season home schedule with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Tuesday and Wednesday. First pitch for Tuesday night is schedule for 7 p.m. while first pitch on Wednesday will be thrown at 2:30 p.m.
