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Texas Tech
No. 25 Baseball falls in 14 innings at Texas Tech, 7-6
04.06.2012 | Baseball
April 6, 2012
LUBBOCK, Texas - The No. 25 Texas Longhorns dropped a 7-6 decision to the Texas Tech Red Raiders in 14 innings on Friday evening at Rip Griffin Park.
Trailing 6-4 in the bottom of the 14th, Texas Tech (18-14, 3-8 Big 12) got the leadoff runner aboard when Alex Silver was able to knock down a ball down the first-base line but was unable to corral it before the speedy Jamodrick McGruder reached for the leadoff single. After Tim Proudfoot struck out looking, David Paiz appeared to ground into a game-ending double play, but Jordan Etier was unable to make the play putting a pair of runners on.
Scott LeJeune singled down the leftfield line to score McGruder and cut the lead to 6-5. After Bo Altobelli grounded out to third, putting two runners in scoring position with two outs. Mason Randolph was intentionally walked to load the bases, setting up Bryant Burleson for the game-ending heroics.
Burleson hit a 1-1 offering into rightfield for a two-run single, plating pinch-runner Trey Masek with the game-tying run and LeJeune with the game-winning run.
Texas (16-12, 6-2 Big 12) took a 6-4 lead in the top of the 14th inning. Brooks Marlow hit a leadoff double down the leftfield line to start the rally. After Etier was unsuccessful in a sacrifice bunt attempt, Tim Maitland grounded out to third to push Marlow to third. Mark Payton was intentionally walked to put runners at the corners bringing pinch-hitter Kevin Lusson to the plate. Payton moved to second on a wild pitch, putting two runners in scoring position. Lusson drove in both runs with a single to rightfield.
After three scoreless frames, the Longhorns pounced on the Red Raiders for two runs in the top of the fourth. With one out, Erich Weiss doubled down the rightfield line. After Jonathan Walsh grounded out to first base, Alex Silver broke the scoring seal with a double to the gap in left centerfield to plate Weiss. After Jacob Felts was hit by a pitch, Marlow bounced a grounder to second base. Marlow beat the throw to second base which eluded the Texas Tech first baseman. The toss trickled towards the Longhorns' dugout along the first-base line allowing Silver to score for the 2-0 lead.
Texas Tech had an immediate response in the home half of the fourth. Barrett Barnes doubled to the gap in left centerfield and scored when LeJeune doubled down the leftfield line. LeJeune moved to third when the throw to second base from Walsh in leftfield sailed over Marlow's head. The Red Raiders added the equalizer when Altobelli bounced to a groundout to shortstop allowing LeJeune to score. Randolph reached first when Weiss' throw from third base pulled Silver off first base. Randolph moved to second on a groundout by Burleson and scored the go-ahead run when Jordan Lopez bounced a single up the middle staking the Red Raiders to a 3-2 lead.
The Red Raiders added padding to the lead with a run in bottom of the fifth. McGruder led off the frame with an infield single to shortstop. Proudfoot laid down a sacrifice bunt to push McGruder to second and Barnes was intentionally walked to put two runners on. LeJeune plated McGruder with a single to the gap in left centerfield to give Texas Tech a 4-2 lead.
The Longhorns knotted the game with two runs in the top of the seventh. Felts singled to rightfield and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Marlow. Etier pushed Felts to third with a groundout and Maitland drove him home with a single through the right side of the infield. Payton tied the game with a triple to the wall in right centerfield, knotting the game at 4-4.
Corey Knebel (2-1) was the hard-luck loser for the Longhorns. He yielded three runs, one earned, on six hits and four walks while striking out eight over a career-long 6.2 innings. Parker French went 4.1 innings in the start allowing four runs, two earned, on five hits and two walks while striking out one. Hoby Milner worked 2.2 shutout frames, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out three.
Jamen Parten (1-0) earned the win, retiring the only batter he faced in the 14th. Shane Broyles put in the yeoman's work, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out six over 5.1 innings of relief before yielding to Jerad McCrummen who allowed Texas' two runs in the top half of the 14th. Duke von Schamann allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits while striking out eight over 7.0 innings of work.
Weiss paced Texas hitters going 4-for-6 with one run. Brooks Marlow went 2-for-5 with one double and one run.
LeJeune paced the Tech batters going 4-for-7 with two runs, two doubles and three RBI. McGruder went 3-for-7 with two runs.
Texas and Texas Tech meet in the rubber match on Saturday afternoon. First pitch at Rip Griffin Park is at 2 p.m.
