Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Missouri
Red Raiders Drop Series To Missouri
May 09, 2004 | Baseball
May 9, 2004
LUBBOCK, Texas - Trevor Helms hit a two-run triple in the top of the ninth that gave Missouri a 3-1 win and gave No. 25 Texas Tech its first Sunday loss of the season. The win also clinched the three-game series for Missouri who rebounded from a 7-5 loss on Friday night with back-to-back wins.
Texas Tech falls to 32-15 on the season and to 12-8 in the Big 12 while Missouri improved to 29-17 overall and 8-12 in the league.
The game was a classic pitching dual throughout most of the game but it was the Tigers who struck first in the top of the third as Trevor Helms scored on a wild pitch by Tech hurler Michael McGowan.
Missouri kept it 1-0 lead until the bottom of the seventh as the Red Raiders stranded five runners in scoring position in the first six innings. Tech finally scratched out a run in the bottom of the seventh when junior designated hitter Dallas Braden hit a two-out RBI single up the middle that plated Cody Fuller who led off the inning with a single to left.
Missouri picked up two singles to lead off the top of the ninth and that prompted Tech pitching coach Travis Walden to bring in Steve Gooch and it turned out to be a good decision as Gooch retired the next two batters. Junior left Barrett Pliler came in to face the switch hitter Helms but a two-run triple to right field gave the Tigers the 3-1 lead.
Braden reached on a one-out single up the middle but Missouri closer Mark Alexander struckout Josh Brady and induced Josh Haney into a pop up that ended the game.
Corey Gerstner suffered his first loss of the season today as he gave up two earned runs on two hits in one inning of work. Taylor Parker earned the win for Missouri and improved to 1-2 on the year while Alexander picked up his eighth save.
Texas Tech returns to action on Wednesday afternoon as the Red Raiders take on Dallas Baptist at Dan Law Field. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
GAME NOTES
- Today's loss to Missouri was the first Sunday loss of the season by Texas Tech as they fall to 11-1 on the year.
- Junior shortstop Cameron Blair extended his hitting streak to 20 games with a single in the bottom of the third.
