Feb. 10, 2001

LUBBOCK, Texas - Junior Stephen Leist hit an RBI single to deep centerfield with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to give the Texas Tech Red Raiders a 3-2 win over the Cal-State Northridge Matadors in Saturday evening's doubleheader nightcap at Dan Law Field.

With the win, Texas Tech is now 5-3 on the year after splitting with the Matadors (8-3) on Saturday. Tech lost the first game of the doubleheader 9-3.

Texas Tech jumped ahead in the second game 1-0 in the bottom of the first when shortstop Gera Alvarez scored on a throwing error by Matador catcher Eric Ballew. Cal-State Northridge took the lead in the top of the fourth inning as the Matadors cranked out two runs on two hits and a Texas Tech defensive miscue.

Tech tied the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh off an RBI single by Anthony Arnerich that plated Matt Deichert. Steve Rowe (1-0) took the win for Texas Tech giving him an 11-1 career record out of the bullpen. Merrill Dunn took the loss for Cal-State Northridge giving him a season record of 1-1.

In the first game of the doubleheader, Texas Tech could not find a way to overcome five defensive errors and the pitching of Andy Davidson who improved his season record to 3-0. Shortstop Gera Alvarez committed two costly errors that helped the Matadors score six unearned runs.

The Matadors took a 4-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning off four hits and one Tech error. Cal-State Northridge put the game out of reach by scoring five runs in the sixth and seventh innings to take a commanding 9-0 lead. Texas Tech managed to avoid the shutout by scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Gera Alvarez and Anthony Arnerich led the Tech offensive attack with a 2-4 performance at the plate. Junior pitcher Chris Phillips (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season for the Red Raiders.

Texas Tech and Cal-State Northridge will conclude their three-game series at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Dan Law Field.