May 18, 2002
Box Score
LUBBOCK, Texas - No. 22 Texas Tech scored twice in the eighth inning off the Baylor bullpen to break open a one-run game and closed out the game with a 5-2 win Saturday afternoon at Dan Law Field.
With the win, the Red Raiders (39-16, 15-11 Big 12) assured that the 17th-ranked Bears (34-21, 13-12 Big 12) would not win a conference series on the road this season. Baylor is 4-10 on the road in Big 12 play this year.
The loss dropped Baylor into a tie for fifth in the Big 12, prior to Saturday night's game. Texas and Nebraska have already clinched the top two spots. After Saturday afternoon's game, Texas Tech stands in third place, followed by Oklahoma.
For the second day in a row, Baylor jumped out to an early lead. Trey Webb led off the first inning with a single up the middle. The shortstop then stole second and third, his 16th and 17th stolen bases of the year, and scored on Chris Durbin's single up the middle to put Baylor on top 1-0. Durbin moved to second on a groundout and stole third, but was stranded there with Mike Huggins struck out swinging for the third out.
Texas Tech got that run back on a solo home run by right fielder Madison Edwards in the second. An inning later, the Raiders added two more runs for a 3-1 lead. Texas Tech started the frame with a single and a double, putting two men in scoring position with nobody out. A wild pitch allowed the first run to come home, and a groundout followed to drive in the second run of the frame.
Tech starter Nathan Fouts (8-5) lasted into the seventh, when he was greeted with a leadoff double by Paul Richmond. Fouts then walked the next batter, Michael Griffin, before being relieved by J.D. Seger. A passed ball moved both runners into scoring position, and Josh Ford followed with a deep fly to left to drive in Richmond. Seger struck out Paul Witt swinging and got Webb to ground out to shortstop to escape further damage.
A bunt single by Richmond put the lead-off man on base in the eighth, but the Bears were unable to move him past second as three pitchers worked the Raiders' way out of the inning.
Baylor starter Jared Theodorakos (3-5) pitched seven complete innings, allowing the three early runs on five hits. The lefty walked three and struck out seven Red Raiders. Freshman Sean Walker, making just his second conference appearance, started the eighth for Baylor on the mound and got just one out before giving up two hits.
Fellow frosh Trey Taylor then took over for Walker and walked the first two men he faced, forcing in a run. A sacrifice fly brought home Texas Tech's fifth run before Taylor got the final out on a groundout to second.
Tech closer Steve Rowe closed the door in the ninth, striking out two of the three men he faced for his eighth save.
The two teams close out the series and the regular season Sunday at 1 p.m.
