Texas Tech Athletics
Cal State Fullerton
Texas Tech's NCAA Tournament Run Comes To An End
May 27, 2001 | Baseball
May 27, 2001
FULLERTON, Calif. - After forcing a second game with top-ranked Cal State Fullerton, the Texas Tech baseball team saw its season come to an end as the Titans won the regional championship game 9-2 on Sunday evening in Fullerton, Calif. Cal State Fullerton improved to 44-16 on the season and will play the Mississippi State Bulldogs next week in the NCAA Super Regionals. Texas Tech finishes its season with a record of 43-20-1, its best mark since the 1998 season.
Texas Tech carried over some of its momentum from the first game as senior first baseman Brennan Burns drove in catcher Tony Arnerich on an RBI single to right field. Cal State Fullerton tied the game in the top of the third on an RBI groundout by Robert Guzman that plated Shane Costa.
The Titans took control of the game in the middle innings by scoring five runs in the fifth and sixth to put the game out of reach. Titan hurler Jon Smith threw 7 2/3rds innings giving up just four hits and at one point retired 15 straight Texas Tech batters.
Brennan Burns led all Texas Tech batters with a 2 for 4 performance at the plate. The losing pitcher for Texas Tech was Chad Ertel and finishes the season with a 3-3 record.
"I am extremely proud of this team for what they have accomplished," said Texas Tech head coach Larry Hays. "We started out the season 13-10 and went 0-4 to start the Big 12 season. So if you look at where we are now compared to where we were then, you can't help but be proud of this team. We ran into a great ball club (in Cal State Fullerton) and they showed it tonight."
