Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
San Francisco
Texas Tech Outlasts San Francisco 16-10
February 15, 2003 | Baseball
Feb. 15, 2003
LUBBOCK, Texas - Junior second baseman Josh Haney went 2-for-4 with four runs scored and two RBI to help bail out a pitching staff that handed out 12 walks on the day as Texas Tech outlasted San Francisco 16-10.
The win improves Texas Tech to 8-1 on the season as the Tech has now won six straight and is off to its best start since starting 11-1 back in 1997.
San Francisco (1-6) jumped out of the gates early as the Dons put up a 6-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Texas Tech starter Nathan Fouts only lasted a 1/3 of an inning as he surrendered two hits and four walks allowing five earned runs to score. Reliever Steven Thomas got Tech out of the inning but not before allowing another walk as the Tech pitching staff tied a Big 12 record with six walks in the inning.
As bad as Tech's pitching was in the top of the first, San Francisco's was equally worse in the bottom half of the inning as Tech scored six runs of its own on five walks, three hits and one hit-by-pitch. Junior designated hitter Evan Shahak doubled in the inning allowing two Tech runs to score. The entire first inning lasted a total of 1 hour and three minutes.
Texas Tech took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI groundout by Madison Edwards. Edwards was one of three players to finish the day with three RBI.
After a scoreless fourth inning for both teams, San Francisco tacked on three runs to take a 9-7 lead. Tech relievers walked two batters and gave up two singles to help push the Don's lead to two.
Junior second baseman Josh Haney drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fifth and third baseman Clint McGill moved him to third on a double to left field. Sophomore catcher Cooper Fouts plated Haney on an RBI groundout to pull Tech within one, 9-8. Tech was able to tie the score in the bottom of the seventh when Madison Edwards ripped an RBI single through the right side to make it 9-9.
San Francisco would not go away as they plated another run in the top of the eighth on a Texas Tech free pass to regain the lead.
Trailing 10-9 in the bottom of the eighth, Texas Tech racked up seven runs on five walks and five hits to take a 16-10 lead into the top of the ninth. Junior Sean Alexander pinch hit for Clint McGill and gave Tech the lead when he ripped a two RBI single through the right side to give Tech a one run lead. Sophomore Cody Fuller delivered a three RBI double later in the inning to extend the Tech lead.
Junior right-hander Aaron Jones (1-0) picked up the win for Texas Tech after pitching 2 2/3 innings allowing just two hits, one earned run and one walk. Brian Borgmann suffered the loss for San Francisco as he allowed three earned runs on four hits with two walks in 3 1/3 innings of relief.
Texas Tech will go for its second-straight series sweep on Sunday as they host San Francisco at 1 p.m.
