Texas Tech University Athletics
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Texas Tech Blows Past No. 21 Oklahoma State 8-3
March 16, 2002 | Baseball
March 16, 2002
STILLWATER, Okla. - Willie Durazo went 3-for-5 with an RBI to lead the Red Raiders to an 8-3 win over No. 21 Oklahoma State on Saturday afternoon giving Texas Tech its 20th win of the season.
Texas Tech (20-9, 4-4 Big 12) took the first lead of the ballgame in the top of the fourth inning when senior shortstop Gera Alvarez reached base on a fielding error by Cowboy third baseman Kenny Hansley. Alvarez picked up a couple of stolen bases and was brought home on an infield RBI groundout by senior third baseman Jake Brown.
Junior center fielder Jon Slack led off the top of the fifth for the Red Raiders with single to right-center and junior left fielder Scooter Jordan followed with a perfect bunt single to put runners at first and second. Senior catcher Willie Durazo picked up his second hit of the game in the next at-bat when he laced an RBI single to right field plating Slack from second. Senior Nick Blankenship was unable to deliver in the next at-bat as he grounded into a double play and freshman Madison Edwards followed with a groundout to second to end the inning.
Oklahoma State's Daylon Monette and Ali Modami led off the bottom of the fifth with singles putting runners at first and second for batter Matt Oakes. Oakes grounded into a double play allowing Monette to score from third and Jeff Salazar flew out to center in the next at-bat to get Tech out of the inning with a 2-1 lead.
Jon Slack delivered a two out full-count RBI single to left-center field in the top of the sixth that plated senior Bryon Smith from second pushing Tech's lead to 3-1. Smith got a one-out walk and Jake Brown got an RBI single early in the inning to set up Slack's RBI single.
Willie Durazo led off the top of the seventh inning with a double to the left field gap giving Durazo his ninth double of the season. Senior Nick Blankenship delivered Tech's biggest hit of the game when he placed a slider from Cowboy reliever Justin Meccage onto the Oklahoma State softball field which lies about 20 feet past the left field wall. The home run was Blankenship's 11th of the season and his fifth two-run homer of the year.
Daylon Monette started a two-run rally for the Cowboys in the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run over the right field wall. Toby Rhodes pinch hit for Matt Oakes and put the next ball into play down the first base line but Tech first baseman Bryon Smith was unable to handle the ball allowing Rhodes to reach on an error. Jeff Salazar was able to score Rhodes from first when he pelted a double off the right field wall bring the Cowboys within two 5-3.
Scooter Jordan delivered a crucial two-out RBI single into left field in the top of the eighth that plated Joel Buchenauer who reached earlier in the inning on a single to first base.
Nick Blankenship picked up his 19th hit-by-pitch of the season as the lead-off batter in the top of the ninth and Madison Edwards brought him home on an RBI triple to right-center for his first hit of the afternoon. Gera Alvarez extended a hitting streak to 10 games with a bloop single to right that plated Edwards from third giving the Red Raiders an 8-3 lead.
Steve Gooch picked up the win for the Red Raiders after tossing 6 2/3 innings allowing two earned runs on six hits. Senior Matt Harbin picked up his first save of the season as he allowed just one hit after replacing Gooch in the seventh.
Texas Tech will try to be the first team to sweep a three-game home conference series from the Cowboys at Reynolds Stadium. The last time the Cowboys were swept in a home conference series was in 1974 at University Park. First pitch for Sunday's game is scheduled for 1 p.m.
