Texas Tech University Athletics
Late Homer Lifts Kansas State Past Texas Tech 7-5
April 16, 2005 | Baseball
April 16, 2005
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Kansas State right fielder Joe Roundy hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning that gave the Wildcats a 7-5 win over Texas Tech on Saturday afternoon at Tointon Family Stadium.
The win evens this three-game series at 1-1 as Tech took the opener 11-7 on Friday night. Texas Tech falls to 24-12 overall and 6-7 in Big 12 play while Kansas State improved to 16-17 and 3-11 in league play. The rubber match of this series is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
It was déjà vu for the Red Raiders in the top of the first as Tech plated two runs in almost the exact same manner as they did on Friday night. Senior center fielder Cody Fuller reached on a leadoff walk and senior second baseman Carey Avants moved him into scoring position with a bunt sacrifice. Tech plated the two runs on back-to-back RBI doubles by senior shortstop Cameron Blair and junior left fielder Brian Capps.
Blair pushed Tech's lead to 3-0 in the top of the third when he belted a solo home run over the fence in left field. The home run was his 12th of the season and his eighth in Big 12 play.
Kansas State evened the score in the bottom of the fourth as the Wildcats got a three-run home run from shortstop Eric Eymann. Eymann's three-run blast came with two outs in the inning and was the fourth home run given up by Tech starter Adam Lawford this season.
The Raiders regained the lead in the top of the seventh as Tech plated two runs off the bats of Carey Avants and Cameron Blair. Avants hammered a line drive up the middle that scored Brent Thomas from second to give Tech the 4-3 lead. Blair drove in the final run of the frame when he laced an RBI triple to left. Tech had the bases loaded with just one out but back-to-back strikeouts by Joey Callender and designated hitter Josh Wilson ended the Tech scoring rally.
The Wildcats took its first lead of the series by scoring four runs in the bottom of the eighth. The decisive blow came from right fielder Joe Roundy as he gave KSU the lead with a three-run homer over the fence in left.
Tanner McElroy (1-2) was charged with the loss for Texas Tech and suffered his first blown save of the season in the process. McElroy gave up four runs on three hits in 1 2/3 innings after replacing starter Adam Lawford in the seventh. Eric Rollins earned the win for Kansas State and improved to 1-2 and Bryan Peterson picked up his second save of the year by pitching a perfect ninth.
