May 16, 2008
Box Score
LUBBOCK, Texas -- Chris Richburg's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the third snapped a 2-2 tie, and Texas Tech never trailed again en route to a 7-4 victory over Baylor in Friday night's Big 12 Conference series opener at Dan Law Field. The Bears (29-23, 10-15) fall to 0-5 this season in Big 12 series openers on the road. The Red Raiders (24-29, 8-17) posted their first victory in a Big 12 series opener this season.
Chris Hall and Willie Rueda opened the third with consecutive singles. After Baylor starter Shawn Tolleson retired the next two batters, Richburg slapped a 2-2 Tolleson offering back up the middle to score Hall from second. Tech stretched its lead with a run in the fourth, two in the fifth and another in the seventh.
Meanwhile, Texas Tech starter Zach Stewart silenced Baylor's bats most of the night. Stewart, who started the year as the Red Raiders' closer, held the Bears to two runs on four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over 8.0 innings in only his third start of the season. He left the game after walking Beamer Weems to open the ninth on his 127th pitch of the night.
The Bears scrapped for a couple runs in the ninth, but Brian Cloud struck out pinch hitter Brooks Kimmey to end the game and notch his second save.
Tolleson (5-4) took the loss, allowing seven runs, six earned, on nine hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 7.0 innings. Tolleson, who was 3-1 with a 1.86 ERA on the road this season prior to Friday's game, allowed only six runs in four previous Big 12 road starts.
Roger Kieschnick gave Tech the game's first lead with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first. Baylor quickly answered on Aaron Miller's two-run homer in the top of the second. However, the Bears managed only four hits the rest of the way - one-out singles by Ben Booker and Weems in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively, an infield single by Miller in the ninth and Raynor Campbell's ninth-inning RBI double.
Miller was 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI. Kieschnick, Rueda and Hall had two hits each for the Raiders.
Baylor and Texas Tech continue the series Saturday at 2 p.m. CDT. The Bears send right-hander Craig Fritsch (3-3, 3.72 ERA) to the mound, while the Red Raiders counter with right-hander Chad Bettis (4-4, 5.95 ERA).
NOTES: Texas Tech leads the all-time series 68-65, including a 43-20 advantage in games played at Lubbock. The Bears are 1-12 at Dan Law Field since 2000. ... Shaver Hansen saw his nine-game hitting streak end; it was his career long.
