Texas Tech University Athletics
Live Baseball Blog From Manhattan
May 08, 2009 | Baseball
May 8, 2009
Questions regarding tonight's game? email me at blayne.beal@ttu.edu.
5:38 p.m.
Greetings Red Raider fans from Tointon Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kan., where the Red Raiders open a three-game series tonight against No. 10 Kansas State. KSU officials are expecting record attendance tonight so the atmosphere should be exciting.
The starting lineups are in so lets take a look:
For The Red Raiders
2B Willie Rueda
LF Michael Reed
SS Joey Kenworthy
1B Chris Richburg
DH Scott LeJeune
CF Taylor Ashby
3B Justin Berry
RF Kengray Fleming
C Jeremy Mayo
RHP Nathan Karns (3-5; 6.18 ERA)
For The Wildcats
DH Adam Muenster
2B Carter Jurica
LF Nick Martini
1B Justin Bloxom
3B Jason King
SS Drew Biery
RF Jordan Cruz
C Rob Vaughn
CF Dane Yelovich
RHP AJ Morris (11-0; 1.29 ERA)
6:01 p.m. A Few Pregame Thoughts
This series is EXTREMELY important for the Red Raiders in terms of the Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City (late May). Tech has missed out of the tournament in each of the last two years so it is important for Tech to get back to OKC. George Watson at the AJ did some research and found that since 2001, no Big 12 team that has started the final six conference game stretch of the year with nine league wins has missed out of the tournament. So lets hope that history repeats itself for the Red Raiders in 2009.
The great thing about all of this is that Tech controls its own destiny. They don't need help from anyone (although a series sweep by Oklahoma over Oklahoma State would be very much appreciated).
The Red Raiders will face one of the top pitchers in the country tonight and it is going to be very important for Nate Karns to throw stikes and keep Tech in the game early. Tech desperately needs at least one win this weekend and lets hope it comes tonight.
6:17 p.m.
Oh my. This is my ninth season of not missing a single pitch of Red Raider Baseball and I have now officially seen it all. The Kansas State Band has entered the stadium and is seated to the right of the press box. I am sorry and you can call me crazy but bands don't belong at baseball games. But, thats just my opinion.
6:31 p.m.
Well folks we are underway. Willie Rueda flew out to center field to start the game. Wreck 'Em Tech!
6:37 p.m. Tech Takes A Lead In The First!
Well Tech got off to a good start in the top of the first as they lead it 1-0. After Rueda's flyball out to lead off the inning, Michael Reed and Joey Kenworthy got back-to-back singles. Chris Richburg then gave Tech the lead with a single up the middle. Lets hope Nate shuts them down here in the bottom of the first.
6:46
Karns holds K-State scoreless in the first and we move to the top of the second with Tech leading 1-0.
6:53 p.m.
The Red Raiders are held scoreless in the top of the first but it was fairly interesting. Taylor Ashby led off the inning with a single that literally bounced about 15 feet off of the third base bag. Ashby then tried to steal second but Justin Berry was called out for batter's interference and Ashby was forced back to first. Kengray Fleming moved Ashby to second on a bunt and then Jeremy Mayo reached on a walk. Rueda grounded out to second to end the inning. 38 pitches so far for Morris.
7:00 p.m.
Well Nate has look good the first two innings of this game and lets hope that continues. He sits them down in order and the Red Raiders take a 1-0 lead to the top half of the third inning. Total pitches for Nate: 26
7:06 p.m. Tech extends its lead
The Red Raiders manufactured a run in the third and that is exactly what you have to do in order to be successful against a guy the caliber of AJ Morris. The run was the result of perfect execution - the name of the game. Michael Reed led off the inning with a double to right and then Joey Kenworthy moved him to third with a groundball to first. Richburg drove in his second run of the game with a sacrifice fly to deep right field. Tech now leads 2-0 and the pitch count for Morris stands at 48.
7:13 p.m.
Nate holds KSU to another zero in the third. Tech now leading 2-0 in the top of the fourth. Willie Rueda did a nice job fielding a wild throw down to second on a steal attempt by Adam Muenster (who reached on a walk) to get the caught stealing and Tech out of the inning.
7:25 p.m.
Well Tech got two runners on base in the fourth but was unable to get another run. Willie Rueda grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning. The good news: Tech ran AJ Morris' pitch count up 22 more pitches as he now has 70.
7:32 p.m.
Another great job by Karns in the fourth inning as he holds KSU scoreless again. Nate actually hit Carter Jurica on the first pitch of the inning and recovered nicely. He struckout Nick Martini, Jurica was thrown out trying to steal second and ended the frame by inducing Jutin Bloxom into a groundout to second. Total pitches for Karns after four innings: 53
7:39 p.m. Tech extends its lead
Michael Reed is shaping up to be the player of the game as he now has three hits on the night and has scored all three run. He blasted his second of the night to lead off the fifth and then moved to third on a groundout by Kenworthy. Reed was able to score on a wild pitch by Morris to give Tech a 3-0 lead. Total pitch count now for Morris is now 84.
Big 12 Score Updates: Kansas leads Missouri 3-2 in the top of the fourth. Texas leads A&M 3-0 in the top of the fifth
7:46 p.m.
Folks let me tell you there is not an empty seat in the house and that is a lot of purple. I have never seen such a crowd here before. Nate has done an OUTSTANDING job of keeping this crowd quiet as he sits KSU down in order in the fifth inning. So far he has allowed just one hit on the night and his pitch count stands at 67.
7:56 p.m. Tech extends its lead
The Red Raiders put up their first crooked number of the night (two runs) to take a 5-0 lead. Freshman third baseman Justin Berry got things started with a solo home run that sailed over the fence in right-center. The home run was his fourth of the year. Fleming then reached on a single and stole second to give Tech another runner in scoring position. Rueda, who had gone 0-for-3 prior so far, finally came through and laced an RBI double to the gap in right-center to score Fleming.
8:01 p.m.
KSU volunteer assistant and first base coach Craig Ringe was ejected from the game after arguing a bang-bang call at first base. The backup catcher Daniel Dellasega is now coaching first for the Wildcats.
8:07 p.m. Pitching Change for Texas Tech
Well the night is done for Nate Karns and he did just what the Red Raiders needed. Nate got the lead runner on a groundout but hit the next batter and just walked Muenster. Tech has brought in sophomore LHP Robbie Kilcrease to face Jurica with just one out in the sixth inning. Tech leading 5-0.
8:12 p.m.
GREAT JOB BY KILCREASE TO KEEP SQUASH THE KSU THREAT! Kilcrease came into the game with two runners on and just one out and retired the next two batters to end the inning. Kilcrease got Jurica to groundout and then got a long fly ball out from Martini to end the game. Tech right fielder Kengray Fleming hit the wall pretty hard on the play and trainer Shawn Lindsey had to go make a visit. It looks as though he is ok. Tech leads 5-0 going to the top of the seventh.
8:18 p.m. Seventh Inning Stretch Time
We are stretching it out here at Tointon Family Stadium. Tech goes down in order for the first time all night. KSU starter AJ Morris is still in the game and got two strikeouts in the inning and a groundball out. Morris now has 113 total pitches.
8:25 p.m. Pitching Change For Texas Tech
With one out and a runner on first, Tech has gone to its bullpen for closer Chad Bettis. The Red Raiders want this one badly and Bettis has been our guy all season long. Lets hope that continues tonight. Jason King got the first hit for KSU since the first inning and just the second of the night for the Wildcats. Bettis has seven saves coming into tonight's game.
8:35 p.m.
Man I am getting old and take take this. Bettis allows a walk and a base hit to load the bases with just one out. However, he gets a strikeout and a lineout to end the inning. Tech leads 5-0 going into the top of the eighth. My heart has skipped a few beats tonight. Get your Guns Up folks.
Score Update
Texas has broken up the game at A&M and leads 8-3 in the bottom of the seventh. Missouri leads Kansas 7-3 in the seventh. Oklahoma State leads OU 2-0 in the bottom of the third.
8:40 p.m.
Well AJ Morris seems to be getting better despite a pitch count of 122. Morris has retired six straight Tech hitters as the Red Raiders went quietly in the top of the eighth. Tech is still clinging to a 5-0 lead as we move to the bottom half of the eighth. Bettis will face the top of the Kansas State order.
8:50 p.m.
Oh brother. Bettis allows a leadoff double and then the next runner get on via a throwing error by Berry. Bettis then gets a double play and a strikeout to end the inning. Did I mention that my heart has skipped a few beats? Tech leads 5-0 in the top of the ninth. Evan Marshall now pitching for KSU.
9:03 p.m. Tech Extends Its Lead
An RBI double by Richburg has given Tech a 6-0 lead as we head to the bottom of the ninth. Cross everything you have! Go Red Raiders!
Final Score: Tech 6, KSU 0. More later
Final Thoughts
HUGE WIN FOR THE RED RAIDERS!
- First Friday night win on the road for Tech since the 2006 season (Tech beat A&M 11-5 on March 24, 2006).
- Tech hands AJ Morris his first loss of the year. Falls to 11-1.
- Tech now in seventh place in the Big 12 standings as Baylor has the weekend off.
- Tech will try to snap a streak of 23 straight series losses on the road tommorrow when the two teams meet for game two.
