May 21, 2004
Box Score
WACO, Texas - Cody Fuller singled through the right side of a drawn in infield with two on and one out in the bottom of the ninth as Texas Tech defeated Baylor 4-3 Friday night at Dan Law Field. It was the 22nd one-run game of the season for the Bears (27-27, 13-10), matching the 2002 team for the most one-run affairs in head coach Steve Smith's 10-year tenure.
Jose Delgado led off the ninth with a bunt single down the third-base line off Ryan LaMotta and moved to second on a Cooper Fouts sacrifice bunt. Abe Woody was then summoned from the bullpen and got Texas Tech (36-17, 15-9) leadoff hitter Josh Brady to pop up to shallow center. However, the ball dropped between converging Chase Gerdes, Mike Pankratz and Paul Witt, putting runners at the corners with one out.
After Brady swiped second base uncontested, Fuller slapped an 0-1 pitch past a diving Paul Witt and into right field for the Raiders' fourth last-at-bat victory of the season. It was Baylor's sixth loss in its final at bat but the Bears' first since a 12-11 loss March 27 at Oklahoma.
That date also marked the last time the Bears had lost in a game started by Trey Taylor, who was nearly masterful in his first Friday-night start of the season. Taylor did not factor in the decision after allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 5.1 innings. The junior southpaw had allowed two runs on just one hit entering the sixth.
Texas Tech took the game's first lead in the third when a Fuller double to right-center plated Fouts. Taylor worked out of the jam, though, getting the next two batters and leaving runners at second and third.
Michael Griffin led off the fifth with a perfect bunt down the third-base line, but the ball finally rolled foul well after Griffin reached first. He returned to the plate and hit the next pitch over the Tech bullpen down the line in left for his 10th round-tripper of the season.
The Raiders answered with an unearned run on two Baylor errors and a Fuller groundout in the fifth. Tech pushed its lead to 3-1 in the sixth. Taylor was lifted from the game when he walked Ryan Andrews following consecutive one-out singles. Delgado then scored Michael Mask on a sacrifice fly off LaMotta.
Baylor missed a golden opportunity for a run in the top of the seventh. With two outs and Drew Sutton on second, Josh Ford singled to center. However, Sutton took a bad angle on his round of third and was thrown out at home.
The Bears did not let that dampen their spirits, though, as Pankratz reached on a one-out walk and Witt followed with a single up the middle in the top of the eighth. Gerdes followed with a two-run double to left-center, knotting score. It marked the first time in 21 opportunities this season that the Bears rallied to tie the score when trailing at the end of seventh innings.
Griffin led off the ninth with another bunt down the third-base line, and this time it stayed fair. Kyle Reynolds moved Griffin to second on a groundout, setting up an intentional walk of Josh Ford. With a full count on Tyler Bullock and one out, the Bears put the runners in motion. Bullock struck out looking and Griffin was thrown out at third.
LaMotta (2-5) was saddled with the loss by virtue of putting the winning run on base in the ninth. He allowed just the one run on two hits with three strikeouts in 3.0 innings.
Fuller's heroics made a winner of John Milton, the second Raider reliever of the night. Milton (4-1) allowed one hit and a walk with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings. Starter Steven Thomas left with the lead after allowing one run on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 7.0 innings.
Griffin went 2-for-4 for the Bears, who collected six hits as a team.
Baylor and Texas Tech meet again Saturday at 2 p.m. The Bears send Sean Walker (4-5) to the mound opposite Raider southpaw Dallas Braden (5-3).
NOTES: Texas Tech leads the all-time series 62-58, including a 38-19 advantage at Lubbock. The Bears have dropped seven straight at Dan Law Field. ... Friday marked Baylor's first loss in a series opener since a 7-6 loss April 16 against Texas. ... Michael Griffin moved into seventh place on Baylor's career hits list and now has 236, passing Mike Bohny (235, 1991-1994). ... Griffin's home run was his ninth in conference play this season. It also was his 96th career extra-base hit, tying Fritz Connally (96, 1977-1980). ... Ryan LaMotta moved into sole possession of sixth place all-time at Baylor with his 53rd career relief appearance. ... Abe Woody moved into an eighth-place tie all-time at Baylor, matching Brett Bergman (1995-1998) with his 51st career relief outing. ... Paul Witt extended his hitting streak to eight games, one shy of his career long established just prior to this streak. ... Kyle Reynolds (five games) and Josh Ford (three games) saw streaks end. ... Paul Witt made his first error since March 27, ending a streak of 98 consecutive chances fielded cleanly over 21-plus games. ... Drew Sutton has reached safely in 12 consecutive games and in 16 of the last 17.
