Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Oklahoma
Nine-Run Third Inning Costs Tech In Loss To Oklahoma
April 25, 2008 | Baseball
April 25, 2008
Oklahoma utilized a nine-run third inning and picked up its first Big 12 road win of the season as they dropped the Red Raiders 12-7 on Friday evening at Dan Law Field.
The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Red Raiders as they fell to 20-24 on the season and to 5-14 in Big 12 play. Oklahoma improves to 27-16-1 and to 5-10-1 in league action.
Texas Tech grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as the Red Raiders took advantage of a shaky start by OU right-hander Andrew Doyle. Chris Richburg drove in the first run of the game as he pushed an RBI single through the left side that scored Joey Kenworthy who reached on an error and moved to second on a single by Doug Thennis. Junior right fielder Roger Kieschnick plated Tech's second run of the inning with a bases loaded single that scored Thennis.
Junior right-hander Zach Stewart, who made his first career start, looked outstanding in the first two innings as he allowed just one hit and struckout four but unfortunately things fell apart for him in the top of the third. As sharp as he was the first two innings, he lost control of the zone and issued four straight walks to start the inning. He would end up surrendering a season-high nine runs on six hits and walked four. All but one of Oklahoma's players would reach base in the inning as the Sooners sent 13 hitters to the plate.
Oklahoma scored two more runs in the top of the fifth to extend its lead to 11-2. Mike Gosse drove in one of the runs with an RBI double down the right field line while Aaron Baker plated the other with an RBI single to center.
After the Red Raiders scored a run in the bottom of the fifth, they began to make a run in the sixth thanks to a four-run outburst that included a three-run home run by Doug Thennis. Willie Rueda reached on a one-out single while Kenworthy drew a walk to give the Red Raiders runners at first and second. Thennis then delivered Doyle's first offering over the left field wall to make the score 11-6. Kieschnick rounded out the scoring for Tech in the frame as he delivered an RBI single through the right side that scored Richburg.
OU reliever Ryan Mottern put an end to any hopes of a Tech comeback as he pitched the final 3 2/3 innings without giving up a run or a hit and struckout six. The save was his first of the season. Andrew Dole logged the win for the Sooners as he pitched 5 1/3 and allowed six runs on 11 hits and struckout four. Zach Stewart (2-2) suffered his second straight loss after giving up nine runs in just 2 2/3 innings.
Texas Tech will try and even up this three-game series on Saturday afternoon as the Red Raiders and Sooners will play a 2 p.m. game at Dan Law Field.
