Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
TCU
Durazo's 10th Inning Home Run Lifts Red Raiders
February 07, 2002 | Baseball
Feb. 7, 2002
HOUSTON, Texas - Senior catcher Willie Durazo hit a solo home run in the bottom of the tenth inning to give the Texas Tech Red Raiders a 2-1 victory over the TCU Horned Frogs in the first game of the Astros College Classic at Enron Field in Houston.
Texas Tech is now 6-1 on the season while TCU falls to 0-1as the game was the season opener for the Horned Frogs. The game was also Tech's first extra-inning affair of the year.
TCU drew first blood in the game when Marshall Wilson scored after reaching on a three base throwing error by Tech third baseman Bryon Smith who was making his first career start at on the left corner. TCU shortstop Levi Robinson was responsible for the RBI on a bloop single to the pitcher's mound.
Texas Tech got its first hit of the game in the bottom of the fifth when Bryon Smith hit a line drive to left-center field. Junior left fielder Jon Slack tied the game at 1-1 when he hit a solo home run over the right-center field wall giving him his second home run of the young season. Tech loaded the bases with two outs in the inning on back-to-back hit batters by TCU hurler Clayton Jerome. Jerome hit both Nick Blankenship (who drew his eighth hit-by-pitch of the season) and designated hitter Austin Cranford. Bryon Smith flew out to right field on a full count to end the inning.
TCU threatened in the top of the ninth inning as the Horned Frogs had runners on first and second with two outs after Tech elected to intentionally walk Jake Duncan. Chris Phillips, however, got the Red Raiders out of the jam retiring the next two batters on a strikeout swinging and an infield groundout.
Senior catcher Willie Durazo delivered the fatal blow in the bottom of the tenth inning with a solo home run that just missed the glove of TCU right fielder Jake Duncan.
Senior Chris Phillips (2-0) picked up his second win of the season and pitched his ninth career complete game and second complete 10-inning game. The complete game moves Phillips into a tie for seventh place on the all-time complete game list at Texas Tech. TCU reliever Aaron Tims suffered the loss for TCU and falls to 0-1.
Texas Tech returns to action on Saturday morning when they take on Louisiana-Lafayette in the second day of the Astros College Classic. For the second straight day, Texas Tech will face a team in its 2002 season opener. First pitch is set for 9 a.m. at Enron Field.
