Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
UNLV
Five-Run Inning Pushes Tech Past UNLV
April 06, 2010 | Baseball
April 6, 2010
Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech took advantage of a five-run fifth inning and two Barrett Barnes home runs to run away with an 11-9 win over University of Nevada-Las Vegas at Earl E. Wilson Stadium Tuesday afternoon.
With the Red Raider lead at 11-7 in the seventh inning, junior closer Chad Bettis entered the game and the Rebels never had a chance to make a comeback as the right-hander retired the first four batters he faced en route to his fourth save of the season. He finished the game surrendering two earned runs on four hits in three innings of relief.
Tech got off to a slow start as UNLV jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the fourth inning, as the only two Red Raider runs came off back-to-back solo home runs over the left field wall by first baseman Barrett Barnes.
However, Texas Tech bats came alive in the top of the fifth inning. Nick Popescu led off with a double to center field to allow Jamodrick McGruder to score him on an RBI-single. A Joey Kenworthy single to right field plated McGruder before a Rebel fielding error and a walk brought Scott LeJeune to the plate to score two more Red Raider runs to take the lead for good, 7-5.
Sophomore Ben Flora earns his second win of the season as he allowed no runs in 1.1 innings of work.
The Red Raiders (15-17; 4-5) will travel to Stillwater, Okla., to face the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Big 12 conference action this weekend. The three-game series will begin on Friday with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m.
