AUSTIN, Texas (TTU) - Texas Tech committed four errors in the bottom of the seventh and Texas blew open a one-run game with four unearned runs to take a 9-5 win over the Red Raiders in the series opener on Friday night at UFCU-Disch Falk Field.
The loss drops Texas Tech to 10-16 on the season and to 3-4 in Big 12 Conference play while Texas improves to 16-6 and 3-4 in the league. The Red Raiders have now dropped two straight and will look to snap their skid on Saturday afternoon with the series against the Longhorns on the line. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
Texas Tech grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the top of the third on a solo home run by Jeremy Mayo and a two-out RBI single by Chris Richburg. The lead wouldn't last as the Longhorns led off their half of the third with three straight singles and then plated their first run on an RBI groundout by Kevin Keyes. Following a walk by Preston Clark, Cameron Rupp crushed a bases-loaded, three-RBI double to the gap in left center field to give Texas a 4-2 lead. The UT lead grew to 5-2 when Brandon Loy scored Rupp with a sacrifice fly to right field.
The Red Raiders made it a one-run ballgame in the top of the fifth as they pushed across a pair of runs on a Texas fielding error and an RBI double by Richburg. Richburg drove in his second run of the night with one out in the inning as he bounced a fastball off the wall in right field that scored Willie Rueda from second.
The Tech defense fell completely apart in the bottom of the seventh as the Red Raiders committed four defensive miscues and that led to four unearned runs by the Longhorns.
Miles Morgan was charged with the loss as he allowed five runs on six hits and a season-high five walks to fall to 1-4 on the year. Chance Ruffin improved to 4-2 after holding Tech to four runs on nine hits over 6 2/3 innings.
R H E
Texas Tech 002 020 001 5 11 5
Texas 005 000 40x 9 11 1
WP = Chance Ruffin (4-2)
LP = Miles Morgan (1-4)
SV = Austin Wood (4)
GAME NOTES
- Texas now leads the all-time series 96-33.
- The third inning has been meant trouble for senior right-hander Miles Morgan in each of his last two outings. Last week at Baylor, the Red Raiders had a two run lead (3-1) before Morgan allowed six runs that gave the Bears a 7-3 lead. Tonight, Morgan had a 2-0 heading into the bottom of the third before giving up
- Senior first baseman Chris Richburg extended his hit streak to 13 games with an RBI single in the top of the third while Taylor Ashby pushed his streak to six games with as single in the sixth.
- Sophomore catcher Jeremy Mayo hit his fourth home run of the year in the top of the third inning.
- The Tech defense committed a season-high five errors on the night, including four in the bottom of the seventh.
- In its last two games, Texas Tech has allowed 10 unearned runs.
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