University of Missouri
Texas Tech
Texas Tech Rallies to Defeat the Tigers
3/29/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 29, 2008
LUBBOCK, Texas - - Texas Tech scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to hand second-ranked Missouri a 3-2 defeat on Saturday in Lubbock, Texas. It was the Tigers first conference loss of the year and prevented junior Ian Berger from picking up his fourth win after another impressive performance on the mound.
Berger struck out six and allowed one run on four hits in eight innings pitched. The run he allowed came in the bottom of the first inning, ending a span of 26.1 scoreless innings pitched by Berger. He has allowed just two earned runs in 38.1 innings this season and continues to lead the Big 12 with an ERA of 0.47.
Missouri (20-4, 4-1 Big 12) put up the first run of the game in the top of the first inning, as senior Kurt Calvert singled, stole second and then scored on a single by sophomore Aaron Senne, who increased his team-leading RBI total to 33 on the season.
Calvert was 3-for-3, with two stolen bases, an RBI and scored both of Mizzou's runs.
Texas Tech (13-12, 3-5) scored its first run of the series in the bottom half of the first inning, as Monk Kreder singled to drive in Joey Kenworthy for the first earned run allowed by the Tigers in Big 12 Conference play this season. MU had gone the first 34.2 innings of league play allowing just two runs, both of which were unearned.
The Tigers loaded the bases in the sixth inning on singles by Calvert and Senne and a hit-by-pitch for senior Jacob Priday. Sophomore Trevor Coleman then drew a walk to force in Calvert. However, that would be the only run of the frame, as MU left the bases loaded.
After freshman Nick Tepesch relieved Berger and struck out Roger Kieschnick to open the ninth inning, Kreder walked and Jason Seefeld singled. Doug Thennis and Taylor Ashby followed with back-to-back RBI singles to take the come-from-behind win.
"Pitching and defense kept us in the game," Head Coach Tim Jamieson said. "But we have to concentrate on what we are doing at the plate and have more quality at-bats. Ian was good and so was Nick, but we needed to give them more than just a one-run lead to work with."
The finale of the three-game series in Lubbock is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday. Sophomore Kyle Gibson (5-0) is slated to get the start for the Tigers.
