Feb. 18, 2011

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LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech shutout Western Michigan 8-0 with three pitchers combining on a two-hitter while Barrett Barnes homered in his first at-bat of the season to guide the Red Raiders to its first Opening Day shutout since 2001 in front of 2,398 fans at Dan Law Field.

It marked the largest Opening Day crowd for the Red Raiders at Dan Law Field since 2003.

Western Michigan dropped to 1-1 on the season after winning its season opener 3-2 against Utah Valley earlier in the day.

Junior John Neely earned the victory pitching 4.0 innings out of the bullpen, allowing only one hit with four strikeouts without surrendering a walk. Junior Daniel Coulombe pitched 3.2 innings of no-hit baseball to begin the contest, but finished pitching 4.0 innings with only allowing one hit with five strikeouts and two walks allowed in the no-decision.

Barnes - who is now 5-for-7 with three home runs and eight RBI in two career Opening Day games - gave the Red Raiders an early 2-0 lead with a home run over the left-field wall in his first at-bat of the season. Barnes drove in sophomore second baseman Jamodrick McGruder who reached base on a bunt single- the first hit of the season for Tech.

Later in the frame, freshman David Paiz drove in senior Nick Popescu, who also reached base on a single. Paiz finished the game 3-for-4 with one run and two RBI. Barnes went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two walks.

Junior reliever Brennan Stewart combined with Coulombe and Neely on the two-hitter as he pitched a perfect frame in the ninth.

Five Red Raiders finished with multiple hits, including McGruder (3-for-5, RBI), Popescu (2-for-3, 2 runs) and junior third baseman Reid Redman (2-for-5).

Tech added a run in the fourth inning on McGruder's single through the right side and then increased its lead to eight runs scoring four runs in the seventh inning on three base hits.

Sophomore left-handed pitcher Mike Moyer (0-1) took the loss in his first start of the season for the Broncos. Moyer threw 3.0 innings while allowing three runs (all earned) on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks allowed. Western Michigan threw four pitchers in the contest.

Only one Western Michigan player reached scoring position - with no base runner advancing past first base during the final five innings.

Texas Tech will continue play in the Red Raider Classic on Saturday, Feb. 19, hosting Northwestern (2:30 p.m.) and Utah Valley (6 p.m.).

Other Red Raider Classic Action:
Game 1: Utah Valley 3, Northwestern 0 | Box Score
- The Wolverines started out the season with a 3-0 shutout win over Northwestern in the first game of the Red Raider Classic. Starting pitcher Blake Krahenbuhl picked up the victory for Utah Valley, pitching five-shutout innings while allowing three base hits and three walks with three strikeouts. Francis Brooke was the hard-luck losing pitcher for the Wildcats after allowing two runs on seven hits with four strikeouts over six innings of work. Utah Valley's offense - which led the NCAA Division I last season with a .372 batting average - was led by Billy Burgess (3-for-4) and Jason Zundel (2-for-4, RBI). Northwestern had a pair of hitters with multi-hit games as Trevor Stevens went 2-for-3 and Chris Lasmet went 2-for-4. Utah Valley reliever Josh Swenson picked up the four-inning save allowing only two base hits with a strikeout.

Game 2: Western Michigan 3, Utah Valley 2 | Box Score
- Western Michigan picked up a 3-2 victory in its Opening Day under first-year head coach Billy Gernon as the Broncos pushed runs across in the second, third and fifth innings. Western Michigan starter Brian Stroud dominated in his first outing of the season tossing 7.0 innings while allowing just one run on five hits with a pair of strikeouts. Zach Thoma (2-for-3), Grant Simotes (2-for-4) and Patrick Duncan (2-for-4) led the charge offensively with each player recording a multi-hit game and tallying an RBI. Utah Valley designated hitter Goose Kallunki saw his career-best 23-game hit streak come to an end which was one game short of the school record set by current teammate Chris Benson.