Feb. 20, 2011

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LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech freshman David Paiz pitched four scoreless innings out of the bullpen while Kelby Tomlinson went 4-for-5 with three RBI to lead Texas Tech to an 8-6 victory over Northwestern in the final game of the Red Raider Classic at Dan Law Field.

The win moves Texas Tech to 4-0 overall, marking the third consecutive season the Red Raiders have been perfect through their opening four games.

Junior right-handed pitcher John Neely pitched two-scoreless innings to close out the game while recording the first save of the season for Texas Tech.

The Red Raiders battled back from a 6-4 deficit after Northwestern (1-3) plated five runs in the fourth inning. Paiz immediately ended the Wildcats rally striking out two of the four batters he faced when entering in the fourth inning.

Paiz then got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning by posting two strikeouts with runners at second and third base. Northwestern followed with only one runner reaching scoring position during the final four innings.

Tomlinson drove in Tech's first two runs and then plated the eventual game-winning run in the fifth inning with an RBI single that scored Altobelli - who reached base on a double to left field.

The Red Raiders consistently added to its run total scoring a pair of runs in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings. Texas Tech tallied a season-high 15 hits with five players in the lineup finishing with a multi-hit game.

Joining Tomlinson with multi-hit games were left fielder Jamodrick McGruder (2-for-5), second baseman Nick Popescu (3-for-5), first baseman Stephen Hagen (2-for-4) and catcher Bo Altobelli (2-for-3).

Hagen launched his first home run of the season in the third inning to give the Red Raiders a 4-1 advantage. Following Northwestern's five-run frame in the fourth, Tech notched two runs to tie the game. Tomlinson then gave Tech the lead for good in the fifth.

Northwestern starting left-handed pitcher Dan Tyson earned a no-decision pitching 3.0 innings allowing six runs on eight hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Wildcats reliever Matt Gailey took the loss allowing two runs on four hits with two strikeouts and one walk while pitching parts of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

Texas Tech starting pitcher Ben Flora pitched three innings allowing one run on two hits with two walks allowed.

2011 Red Raider Classic All-Tournament Team
C - Bo Altobelli, Texas Tech
1B - Stephen Hagen, Texas Tech
2B - Nick Popescu, Texas Tech
SS - Kelby Tomlinson, Texas Tech
3B - Reid Redman, Texas Tech
OF - Billy Burgess, Utah Valley
OF - Barrett Barnes, Texas Tech
OF - Chris Kontos, Northwestern
DH - Grant Simotes, Western Michigan
UTL - Jamodrick McGruder (2B/LF), Texas Tech
SP - Robbie Kilcrease, Texas Tech
SP - Brian Stroud, Western Michigan
SP - Kyle Beecher, Utah Valley
RP - John Neely, Texas Tech

Most Outstanding Player:
- Kelby Tomlinson, Texas Tech

Other Red Raider Classic Action:
Game 7: Utah Valley 3, Western Michigan 1
- A pitchers' duel from the start saw Utah Valley eventually come away with a 3-1 victory over Western Michigan in the seventh game of the Red Raider Classic. Utah Valley was led by starting pitcher Kyle Beecher's six-inning performance where he allowed only one run on one hit with seven strikeouts. Wolverines lead-off hitter Cole McWhorter led the offense going 1-for-3 with two RBI. The Utah Valley pitching staff combined allowed only two base hits.