March 2, 2003

Box Score

LUBBOCK, Texas - Northern Iowa scored four runs in the sixth and five in the eighth and withstood a three run Texas Tech rally in the bottom of the ninth to salvage the final game of the series against the No. 22 Red Raiders, 10-9 on Sunday afternoon.

The loss drops Texas Tech 13-5 on the season while Northern Iowa picked up its first win of the year and improves to 1-6.

Texas Tech jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the first and then pushed the lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the third.

Northern Iowa came storming back in the sixth as the Panthers scored four runs on three walks, one hit-by-pitch and two hits. Tech starter Tanner McElroy was chased away in the inning after pitching 5 1/3 innings striking out 12 batters with five walks.

The Panthers plated five more runs in the eighth including three unearned runs after a two-out defensive error by shortstop T.J. Bruce.

Texas Tech rallied in the bottom of the ninth by scoring three runs on an RBI double by Cody Fuller, an RBI groundout by Doug Beck and a RBI pinch-hit single by Sean Alexander. Northern Iowa reliever Spencer Black retired pinch hitter Madison Edwards with the tying run on second en route to his first save of the season.

Texas Tech returns to action Friday, March 7 against the Southwest Texas Bobcats. The three-game series begins at 7 p.m. on Friday night at Dan Law Field.