Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
New Mexico
Kilcrease Pitches Tech To 6-3 Win Over New Mexico
February 25, 2009 | Baseball
Feb. 25, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas - Sophomore left-hander Robbie Kilcrease held a potent New Mexico offense to just two runs on four hits over six innings while Chris Richburg added three RBIs to lead Texas Tech to a 6-3 win over the Lobos in front of a crowd of 1,912 at Dan Law Field on Wednesday afternoon.
With the win, the Red Raiders close out a six-game homestand with a 5-1 overall record while New Mexico drops to 4-2. The Red Raiders and Lobos will decide the four-game season series in Albuquerque in late March as the two teams meet March 31-April 1 at Isotopes Park.
Kilcrease got off to a shaky start in the first inning as he let New Mexico jump out to a 2-0 lead. The Lobos picked up a pair of doubles in the frame including an RBI double by Max Willett that plated the first run of the game. From that point forward, Kilcrease was sensational as he allowed just one hit and two walks and held New Mexico scoreless over the next five innings.
Freshman third baseman Justin Berry was the driving force behind Kilcrease's day as he picked up a game and season-high 10 assists along with one putout.
The Red Raiders erased the New Mexico lead in the bottom half of the third as Tech drove in four runs to take a 4-2 advantage. Freshman designated hitter Scott LeJeune led off the inning with a solo home run that bounced off the scoreboard in right-center field. The home run marked the first of his career and pulled Tech within one (2-1). Sophomore center fielder Logan Brown reached on a hit-by-pitch in the next at-bat and then scored the tying run off an RBI double by junior second baseman Michael Reed. Richburg drove in the first of what would be three RBIs on the afternoon with a double to right-center to give Tech the lead at 3-2. Junior left fielder Taylor Ashby plated the final run of the inning with an RBI single that scored Richburg from second.
In the fifth, Richburg put the game out of reach as he blasted a two-run homer over the wall in right-center to extend the Tech lead to 6-2. The home run was his third of the season and his second of the series.
With the win, Kilcrease improved to 1-0 on the year and earned his first win since a five-inning effort against Dallas Baptist on May 13, 2008. Jason Oatman (0-1) was charged with the loss for New Mexico as he gave up six runs on nine hits over 4 1/3 innings. Senior LHP Cory Large earned his second save of the season by pitching two shutout frames in the eighth and ninth.
The Red Raiders hit the road on Thursday for what will be the start of an 11-day road trip in California. Tech opens up the road swing with a three-game series at Cal-State Northridge beginning on Friday afternoon. First pitch at Matador Field is set for 4 p.m. (CT).
