Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Illinois
Thomas Pitches Texas Tech Past Illinois 4-1
March 12, 2004 | Baseball
March 12, 2004
ROUND ROCK, Texas - Senior right-hander Steven Thomas allowed just one run over eight innings and reliever John Milton shut the door as Texas Tech dropped Illinois 4-1 on Friday morning in the 2004 Round Rock College Classic.
Steven Thomas had a second-straight stellar outing on the hill for the Red Raiders as he allowed just one run and scattered four hits through eight innings of work. The win improved him to 2-1 on the season.
Texas Tech (13-4) stormed out of the gates early as the Red Raiders plated three runs in the top of the first. Cameron Blair singled on the first pitch of the game and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Michael Mask. Jose Delgado reached on a bunt single and Josh Haney moved to first on a hit-by-pitch to give Tech runners at first and second and one out in the inning. Junior designated hitter Ryan Andrews picked up his eighth double of the season when he hit a two-RBI job to right field to push the Tech lead to 3-0.
Illinois got on the board in the bottom of the fourth as Tech starter Steven Thomas walked the leadoff hitter and then gave up a single to Chad Frk. Left fielder Drew Davidson plated the Illini's first run of the game when he singled down the left field line scoring Frk from second.
The Red Raiders picked up an insurance run in the top of the seventh when junior centerfielder Michael Mask hit a bases-loaded RBI single to push the lead to 4-1.
Steven Thomas gave up a walk and a single to start the bottom of the ninth and was then replaced by right-handed reliever John Milton. Milton retired the final three batters to pick up the first save of the season for the Red Raider bullpen.
The Texas Tech offense managed a season-low tying six hits on the day while Michael Mask and Ryan Andrews paced the squad with two RBI each.
Texas Tech returns to action on Saturday morning as the Red Raiders will face eighth-ranked Notre Dame. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock.
