March 14, 2003
Box Score
WACO, Texas - Steven White struck out a career-high 12 batters and Baylor scored two unearned runs in the seventh as the eighth-ranked Bears beat No. 20 Texas Tech Friday night in each team's conference opener, 3-1.
The Bears (16-5, 1-0 Big 12) took advantage of two errors in the seventh to score the tie-breaking runs and defeat the Red Raiders (16-7, 0-1 Big 12) for the first time since 2001.
After Texas Tech shortstop T.J. Bruce booted a grounder by Michael Griffin to start the seventh inning, designated hitter Seth Fortenberry lined a single to right that scooted under the glove of rightfielder Madison Edwards as Griffin scored and Fortenberry ended up on third base. Fortenberry scored on a sacrifice fly by Trey Webb as Baylor took a two-run lead.
White (3-0) threw 126 pitches in seven innings, allowing only five hits and three walks to go with the 12 strikeouts. He allowed only one run, a fourth-inning tally that at the time tied the game at 1-1.
Freshman Abe Woody closed out the game, pitching the final two innings for his second save. Woody struck out two, walked one and allowed one hit but held the door shut as the Bears picked up the series-opening win.
Waco Midway product Steve Gooch (3-2) was the hard-luck loser. The junior went the distance (eight innings), allowing only six hits and one earned run, but suffered the defeat thanks to the two unearned runs. Gooch walked just one batter and struck out three.
Baylor took an early lead in the second, scoring the first run of the game on a lead-off double by Ross Bennett and a two-out double by Webb. Tech's only run came in the fourth, as the Red Raiders put together back-to-back singles to start the inning and a fielder's choice by Edwards brought home Sean Alexander with the run.
Baylor and Texas Tech square off Saturday in game two of the series at 3 p.m. at Baylor Ballpark, then wrap things up Sunday at 1 p.m.
NOTES: Baylor head coach Steve Smith picked up his 314th win in his 500th career game at the helm of the Bears Friday night... Bennett, the Big 12's leading hitter, went 2-for-4 but saw his average drop to .516... David Murphy had his career-high 11-game hitting streak snapped... Ross Bennett extended his career-best hitting streak to 10 games.
