HOUSTON, TX – No. 7 TCU overcame a two-run early deficit and shutout out Texas Tech over the final eight innings to take an 11-2 win over the Red Raiders in the first game of the 2010 Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park.
The loss dropped Texas Tech to 7-3 on the season while TCU improved to 7-1.
The Red Raiders jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the first inning and Michael Reed got Tech rolling with a leadoff double to left. Following a single by senior shortstop Joey Kenworthy, freshman right fielder Barrett Barnes drove in the first run of the game with a single to left. Junior third baseman Nick Popescu then drove in Kenworthy with an RBI groundout to give Tech a two-run cushion.
Tech's offensive output in the first inning would be it for the day as the Horned Frog pitching staff combined for eight shutout innings the rest of the way.
TCU answered Tech's scoring with a two-run outburst in the top of the second that tied the game at 2-2. A leadoff double by Bryan Holaday in the third set the stage for an RBI single by Jason Coats that turned out to be the game-winning hit. The Frogs tacked on two more runs in the frame to build a 5-2 lead.
Tech surrendered single runs in the fifth and sixth innings and two runs each in the seventh and eighth to fall behind 11-2.
Junior right-hander Chad Bettis took the loss after giving up seven runs on 11 hits and two walks over six innings of work. Steven Maxwell (3-0) rebounded from a shaky first inning and tossed five shutout innings before being replaced in the seventh. Maxwell held Tech to just two runs on seven hits and struckout four in his third win of the season.
Texas Tech returns to action on Saturday evening when the battle No. 9 Rice at 7 p.m. here at Minute Maid Park.
R H E
TCU 023 011 220 - 11 15 1
Texas Tech 200 000 000 - 2 7 1
WP = Steven Maxwell (3-0)
LP = Chad Bettis (2-1)
SV = None
GAME NOTES
- Texas Tech falls to 7-3 on the season and to 0-1 against nationally ranked opponents. With today's 11-2 win, TCU takes a 69-68-1 lead in the all-time series.
- The Red Raiders are now just 5-11 all-time in the Houston College Classic and have lost two-straight games in this tournament dating back to 2008.
- Junior right-hander Chad Bettis took the loss for Texas Tech today but did manage to tie his career high with nine strikeouts against the Horned Frogs.
- Senior left fielder Michael Reed extended his career-best hit streak to eight games with a leadoff double in the first inning.
- Freshman Barrett Barnes' RBI single in the first gave him 14 on the season and that mark is tied for second in the Big 12 Conference.
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