Tech baseball takes series from LaSalle with 7-0 win
By: Scott Lacefield
Updated: March 3, 2013
LUBBOCK, Texas -
Freshman right-handed pitcher Matt Withrow led Texas Tech to its second
straight shutout and to a series clinching win over La Salle with a
7-0 victory on Sunday in front of 2,419 fans at Dan Law Field at Rip
Griffin Park.
Texas
Tech (7-5) set a new school record along the way with its fourth
shutout win at home during its first seven games in Lubbock. The Red
Raiders now have 18 consecutive
scoreless innings pitched, which is the most by the Red Raiders pitching
staff in 12 years.
Withrow
(2-1) guided Tech with seven shutout frames - including at least one
strikeout in each of the first six innings - while allowing one walk and
scattering six
hits with a season-high eight strikeouts. In addition, Withrow retired
the leadoff batter in all seven innings he took the mound.
Junior
right fielder Devon Conley paced Tech at the plate going 2-for-4 with
three RBI and a double. Freshman designated hitter Jarrard Poteete
(1-for-3) scored two
runs and tallied an RBI while junior shortstop Jake Barrios went 1-for-3
with a double and two RBI.
La
Salle starting pitcher Shawn O'Neill (0-1) lost his season debut going
four innings with five walks while allowing four runs on four hits with a
strikeout. Both
teams used three pitchers in the two hour and five minute contest.
Tech
relievers Andre Wheeler (0.2 IP) and Corey Taylor (1.1 IP) preserved
the shutout while combining for the final two innings on the hill for
the Red Raiders.
It was scoreless until the third when Tech plated two runs on Conley's double down the right-field line.
The
Red Raiders added two runs in the fourth with an RBI triple from third
baseman Tim Proudfoot and with an RBI single from Conley.
Sophomore
second baseman Bryant Burleson - who had his 11-game hit streak snapped
in the game - led off the fifth inning with a walk and later came
around to score
on an RBI groundout by Poteete. Burleson went 0-for-3 in the game,
despite reaching base safely for the 12th consecutive game.
Withrow
never faced more than five batters in an inning while allowing only
three base runners to reach scoring position. Withrow struck out a pair
in the third and
fourth innings while finishing his third start throwing 97 pitches.
Barrios
hit a shallow fly ball to center field in the eighth inning that got
past a diving George Smith Jr. while scoring two additional runs for
Tech. Poteete singled
and scored and Randolph walked and crossed home plate on Barrios'
two-run double.
Tech
will be back on the road this week with a midweek two-game series at
defending national champion Arizona, March 5-6, at Hi Corbett Field in
Tucson. The Red Raiders
and Wildcats will play Tuesday at 7 p.m. CT and conclude the midweek
series on Wednesday with a 2 p.m. CT first pitch.
