Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Missouri
Missouri Completes Sweep Of Tech, 15-2
April 26, 2009 | Baseball
April 26, 2009
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Texas Tech's hope of salvaging the series finale against Missouri came up short as the Tigers completed a three-game sweep of the Red Raiders with a 15-2 win on Sunday afternoon at Taylor Stadium. The game ended after seven innings due to the Big 12 run-rule policy on getaway day.
The loss drops Tech to 20-27 overall and to 9-12 in Big 12 Conference action while Missouri improves to 24-21 and 11-10 in the league.
Texas Tech jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to an RBI single by Scott LeJeune. LeJeune's single drove in Michael Reed who drove a one out double to the gap in left-center.
Missouri countered in its half of the first with three runs to take a 3-1 lead. Greg Folgia drove in two of the Tiger runs with a double to left and Kyle Mach followed with an RBI single to right.
The Tigers put the game on cruise control with four runs in the bottom of the second. After Tech starter Nate Karns walked Ryan Ampleman to lead off the inning, the Red Raiders went to their bullpen for Chad Bettis. Things didn't fare much better for Bettis as he walked the first batter he faced and then allowed four consecutive singles after a fly out by Austin Holt.
Missouri put up another four spot in the bottom of the fourth to put the game out of reach as the Tiger lead grew to 11-1. Bettis gave up four hits in the inning along with a walk and a hit batter.
Junior shortstop Joey Kenworthy drove in Tech's only other run of the game in the fifth when he plated Willie Rueda with an RBI single to left. Rueda drew a two-out double to the gap in right-center to set up the RBI opportunity for Kenworthy.
Nate Karns was charged with the loss after giving up four runs in just one inning of work. Nick Tepesch pitched a complete game (seven innings) and held Tech to just two runs on nine hits to improve to 4-4 on the year.
Texas Tech will have the next eight days off as the university begins its final exam period. The Red Raiders will return to the diamond on May 6 at Dallas Baptist.
