Texas Rallies to Even Series With No. 7 Texas Tech

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Texas Rallies to Even Series With No. 7 Texas Tech

April 23, 2016 | Baseball

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April 23, 2016

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LUBBOCK, Texas -- Texas rallied from a three-run deficit with two runs in the fifth and three more in the seventh inning Saturday afternoon as the Longhorns defeated No. 7 Texas Tech, 7-4, to even the series at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.

The loss snapped an 11-game winning streak in Big 12 play for the Red Raiders (31-11; 12-2), who had also won each of their last 13 games at home. The conference winning streak was previously the fifth-longest in Big 12 history.

Tech built an early lead behind a three-run third inning where the Red Raiders picked up a sacrifice fly from Cory Raley and then back-to-back two out RBI singles from both Tyler Neslony and Hunter Hargrove.

The single marked the sixth RBI for Neslony already in the series as he previously drove in five runs in Friday's opener. He nearly added at least two more runs in the opening inning as his liner up the middle with the bases loaded was snagged by second baseman Jake McKenzie to get the Longhorns out of an early jam.

Stephen Smith provided Tech with its final run of the afternoon as he drilled a towering solo home run deep over the left-field fence in the fourth inning. The home run was Smith's Big 12-leading ninth of the season.

Texas began its rally an inning later, however, as Trey Barrera knocked a RBI double into left field while Kacy Clemens followed with a sacrifice fly. Barrera and Clemens were two of five Longhorns with multi-hit performances.

Clemens' sacrifice fly ended Steven Gingery's day as the left-hander allowed three runs off four hits and four strikeouts before being replaced by Ryan Moseley with two outs in the fifth inning. Moseley (4-3) suffered the loss for Tech as he surrendered three runs off six hits over 2.1 innings.

The Longhorns loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh off three-consecutive infield singles against Moseley, setting up a Patrick Mathis two-run single into left field. Mathis finished 2-for-4 overall at the plate with three RBI as he also drew a bases-loaded walk for Texas' first run in the opening inning.

Zane Gurwitz followed Mathis with a RBI single through the right side later in the seventh. He padded Texas' lead again in the ninth with a RBI double to right field that closed a 2-for-4 day at the plate.

Texas starter Ty Culbreth (8-2) picked up the win for the Longhorns after giving up four runs off six hits, four walks and four strikeouts over six complete innings. Nolan Kingham earned the save, meanwhile, after retiring nine of the 10 Red Raiders he faced over the final three frames.

The Red Raiders will look to rebound in Sunday's rubber match against the Longhorns. Ryan Shetter will get the start for the Red Raiders in a 2 p.m. first pitch on FOX Sports Southwest Plus.