March 14, 2009

Final Stats |  Notes

LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech erupted for 12 runs in the seventh and eighth innings to take a 16-8 come-from-behind win over Nebraska in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon at Dan Law Field.

Junior right fielder Taylor Ashby tied his career high with four hits and drove in three runs to help snap a two-game losing streak as the Red Raiders improved to 7-9 on the year and to 1-0 in Big 12 play. The loss snapped a five-game win streak for Nebraska as they fell to 10-4-1 overall and to 0-1 in league play.

Texas Tech rode the arm of senior right-hander Miles Morgan for 5 1/3 innings and the Red Raiders built a 4-2 lead thanks to a pair of runs in the fourth and one in the fifth. The Huskers, however, took advantage of a shaky defensive inning by the Red Raiders in the sixth and scored three runs to take a 5-4 lead. Nick Sullivan drove in a single run off Tech reliever Robbie Kilcrease in the seventh to push the Husker lead to 6-4.

The Red Raiders entered the game with their late inning struggles well chronicled but this time it was the Husker bullpen who collapsed. Texas Tech pounded out a season-high seven runs in the bottom of the seventh, using five hits and three bunts (two for base hits) to grab an 11-6 lead. Ashby drove in the final two of his three RBI on the afternoon to tie the score at 6-6 while Jeremy Mayo gave Tech a lead it would not surrender with an RBI base hit to right.

Nebraska added pair of runs in the top of the eighth to close the gap but a five-run outburst by the Red Raiders in their half of the inning sealed the win. The Red Raiders cranked out five hits in the inning to give them a final total of 17, which was a season-high.

Miles Morgan logged 5 1/3 innings allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits in a no-decision. Brian Cloud (2-2) picked up the win as he was the pitcher of record in the seventh inning. Nebraska reliever Eric Rose (1-1) was tagged with the loss after giving up two runs on two hits without recording a single out in the seventh. Chad Bettis pitched the final two innings for his second save.