Extra Innings, Extra Frustration
By: Brandon Rawe/TTU
Updated: April 19, 2008
LUBBOCK, Texas – Kansas State’s Jordan Cruz hit a
three-run home run with two outs in the top of the 10th inning to
lead the Wildcats to a series-clinching 7-4 win over Texas Tech on Saturday
afternoon in front of 2,754 fans at Dan Law Field.
The loss moves Texas Tech’s (17-23)
losing skid to eight games and matches the longest losing streak since the 1987
season, Larry Hays’ first as the head coach of the Red Raiders.
Senior first baseman Jason Seefeld
broke a 3-3 ballgame with two outs in the bottom of the eighth when he belted a
solo home run over the left field wall to give the Red Raiders a 4-3 lead
heading into the top of the ninth.
Tech closer Zach Stewart retired the
first batter of the ninth but then allowed a double down the left field line to
Brett Scott. With two outs and a 3-2
count to Byron Wiley, Stewart let one get a way and Wiley drove a double off the
center field wall that allowed Scott to score and tied the game at
4-4.
Junior right fielder Roger Kieschnick
had the chance to be the hero for the Red Raiders in the bottom of the ninth as
he came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. Instead, he slapped at the first offering he
got from KSU reliever Daniel Edwards and grounded out to end the inning and
ultimately Tech’s hopes of winning the game.
The Wildcats came out firing in the
top of the 10th as they got back-to-back hits with one out in the
inning and then Cruz silenced the Tech faithful with a three-run home run that
fell in the K-State bullpen in right field.
The home run was just his second of the season.
The Red Raiders had built a 3-1 lead
with some clutch RBIs hits from Willie Rueda and Joey Kenworthy in the bottom of
the fourth, however, that lead wouldn’t last as K-State tied it up with two runs
in the fifth. Tech starter Chad Bettis
gave up a two-run to Nate Tenbrink that tied the game at 3-3 and was Bettis’
seventh home run allowed of the year.
Stewart (2-1) suffered the loss for
Texas Tech as he gave up four runs on five hits over 2 1/3 innings. Daniel Edwards (2-3) earned the win in relief
for the Wildcats as he logged 1 2/3 innings of shutout
work.
Texas Tech will try and salvage the
series finale on Sunday afternoon. First
pitch is set for 1 p.m.
R H E
WP = Daniel Edwards
(2-3)
LP = Zach Stewart
(2-1)
SV =
None
GAME NOTES
·
Texas Tech has now lost
eight-straight games and eight-straight
Big 12 games. The last time Tech
lost eight games in a row was back in 1987 and the last time the Red Raiders
lost eight-straight conference games was also in 1987.
·
Willie Rueda and Joey
Kenworthy continue to keep the team afloat offensively as they lead the team
with .331 and .318 batting averages respectively.
·
Junior reliever Zach Stewart
has allowed seven runs in his last three outings after allowing a combined six
runs in his first 14 appearances.
·
Texas Tech is now 7-14-1
against the two schools from
--ttu--
