Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
TCU
Tech Ends Losing Skid, Drops TCU 5-1
February 16, 2002 | Baseball
Feb. 16, 2002
ROUND ROCK, Texas - Nick Blankenship and Tyler Carson netted two hits and Texas Tech played its first error free game since the season opener against BYU as the Red Raiders ended a three-game losing streak by defeating TCU 5-1 on Saturday afternoon at the Lone Star Classic at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas.
With the win, Texas Tech improves to 7-4 on the season while TCU falls to 2-4.
Texas Tech scored its first run of the tournament in the bottom half of the first inning when Nick Blankenship doubled with two outs scoring Jon Slack who reached on a leadoff double to start the game. Tech had runners at first at second in the inning as Bryon Smith reached on a walk but Cody Fuller, making his first career start, couldn't drive in a run as he struckout on a breaking pitch from TCU starter Kyle Shoemaker.
Senior shortstop Gera Alvarez led off the bottom of the third with a single to right field and right fielder Brent Fossum was able to reach base on failed fielder's choice attempt by Shoemaker. Nick Blankenship picked up his second RBI of the game with a bloop single to right field that scored Alvarez from second. Tech plated its second and final run of the inning on double play ground out by first baseman Bryon Smith.
TCU got on the board in the top of the seventh inning as Steve Gooch had runners on the corners with two outs before being replaced by Steve Rowe. Rowe allowed a hit to right center field that just missed the glove of Tyler Carson allowing Marshall Wilson to score bring the Frogs within one, 3-1.
Tyler Carson led off the bottom half of the seventh with a standup double down the left field line and Joel Buchenauer followed with a perfect bunt single to third base to give Tech runners at the corners with no outs. Jon Slack lined out to TCU shortstop Levi Robinson on a great defensive play and then Robinson was able to turn the play as he caught Buchenauer retreating back to first. Freshman Madison Edward pinch hit for Brent Fossum and delivered a two out single to center field plating Carson and Alvarez. Tech loaded the bases after Nick Blankenship picked up his 10th hit-by-pitch of the season and Bryon Smith drew a walk but pinch hitter Austin Cranford was unable to plate any more runs for Tech as he grounded out to the first baseman.
Tech took a 5-1 lead into the top of the eighth inning and Steve Rowe was able to retire six of the last seven TCU batters to preserve the win and picked up his first save of the season in the process.
Steve Gooch (2-0) picked up the win for Texas Tech after going 6 2/3 innings allowing just one earned run and four hits. Last week's Conference USA Pitcher of the Week Kyle Shoemaker, who earned the win against No. 9 Texas last week, suffered the loss for TCU as the Red Raiders scored three earned runs and put up five hits against the lefthander.
Texas Tech will wrap up play in the 2002 Lone Star Classic with a game against Southwest Texas on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for noon at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock.
