Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Clemson
Red Raiders Hold Off Clemson 13-10
March 20, 2004 | Baseball
March 20, 2004
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth after a ferocious Clemson comeback and the Red Raiders held on for a 13-10 win over the Tigers in front of 3,429 fans at Dan Law Field on Saturday afternoon. The win evens the series a 1-1 as the Tigers took game one 7-3 on Friday night.
The Red Raiders (14-7) seemingly had the game set on cruise control through seven innings as junior right-hander Dallas Braden had allowed just one run on eight hits. Tech went to its bullpen in the top of the eighth and that's when the drama unfolded as the Tigers scored eight runs on eight hits to take a 9-7 lead. Tech went to four different pitchers in the inning as the Tigers batted all the way through the lineup before junior left-hander Barrett Pliler ended the rally when he got third baseman Brad McCann to fly out to center.
Down 9-7 in the bottom of the eighth, Tech went to work as junior shortstop Cameron Blair reached on a leadoff walk and scored on an RBI double by Jose Delgado. Michael Mask followed up with a bloop double to right-center field giving Tech runners at second and third with no outs. Senior third baseman Josh Haney gave Tech a 10-9 lead when he blasted a three-run home run over the right field wall. Tech wasn't finished there as designated hitter him when he hit a two-run home run over the right field wall to push Tech's lead to 13-9.
Texas Tech jumped out to a 6-0 lead as the Red Raiders scored two runs in the fourth and four in the sixth. In the sixth, Michael Mask picked up a three-RBI triple and Josh Brady got an RBI single to account for the scoring.
Clemson (8-8) scored its first run of the game in the top of the seventh on a solo home run by right fielder Kris Harvey. The Tigers got another home run in the top of the ninth from catcher Lou Santangelo.
Madison Edwards paced the Texas Tech offense as he was 4-for-4 at the plate with a home run and four RBI. Brad McCann, Lou Santangelo and John Ingram each had three hits on the day for Clemson as the Tigers out hit the Red Raiders 18-13.
Barrett Pliler earned the win for Texas Tech in a brief relief appearance and moved to 1-0 on the season while Steve Gooch picked up his first save of the year. Clemson reliever Collin Mahoney (0-2) took the loss for Clemson as he gave up six earned runs on four hits in the eighth inning.
Texas Tech and Clemson will play the rubber match of the three-game series on Sunday afternoon at Dan Law Field. First pitch is set for noon.
