Tech Baseball Loses Close Battle to #2 Missouri

LUBBOCK, Texas – Missouri right-hander Aaron Crow pitched eight shutout innings with nine strikeouts and Nick Tepesch sealed the game with a scoreless ninth as the second-ranked Tigers took a 1-0 series-opening win on Friday evening at Dan Law Field.

The loss drops Texas Tech to 12-12 on the season and 2-5 in the Big 12 while Missouri improved to 20-3 and 4-0 in league play.

Missouri got the only run it needed in the top of the first inning as designated hitter Jacob Priday delivered a clutch two-out single up the middle that scored Greg Folgia.  Folgia and Kurt Calvert led off the game with a back-to-back singles to set up the scoring opportunity for Priday.

The Tigers then rode the arm of ace Aaron Crow (6-0) who pushed his scoreless streak to 33 2/3 innings by holding Tech to just two hits and struckout nine over the next eight innings.  Crow came into tonight’s game having thrown back-to-back shutouts.

Texas Tech got a strong start from right-hander Nate Karns (1-4) who had struggled in his last three outings on the mound.  Karns allowed just one run on six hits over 5 1/3 innings and struckout five.

Nick Tepesch picked up his fourth save after pitching a scoreless ninth.

The Red Raiders will look to even up this three-game series on Saturday afternoon.  First pitch for game-two is set for 2 p.m.

                                                                                                      R     H     E

Missouri                    100       000       000                               1      6      1

Texas Tech              000       000       000                               0      3      1

WP = Aaron Crow (6-0)

LP = Nate Karns (1-4)

SV = Nick Tepesch (4)

(courtesy: texas tech)