March 31, 2002

Box Score

LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech scored seven runs in the bottom of the eighth including a three-run home run by Nick Blankenship to run past the Missouri Tigers 13-6 in the first game of a Big 12 doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at Dan Law Field.

With the win, Texas Tech improves to 23-12 overall and 7-7 in the Big 12 while Missouri falls to 10-15 and 2-9 in the league.

Senior shortstop Gera Alvarez gave Texas Tech a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when he connected on his first career grand slam off of Missouri starter James Justin. The home run was Alvarez' sixth of the season. The grand slam was set up by a leadoff single to center by Jon Slack, a walk by Willie Durazo and Nick Blankenship's 21st hit-by-pitch of the season.

Missouri tied the score in the top of the third inning as the Tigers scored fours runs with two outs in the inning. The Tigers got RBI doubles from Ryan Rallo and Jody Roughton and RBI singles from Cody Ehlers and Lee Laskowski.

Mick Weiss gave Missouri a 5-4 lead in the top of the sixth when he hit a solo home run over the right field wall.

Texas Tech retook the lead in the bottom of the seventh as the Red Raiders scored two runs on three hits. Jon Slack led off the inning with a single to center and Scooter Jordan got a base hit on a controversial call at first base when the ball came out of the glove of the Missouri second baseman who was covering the bag at first. After a lengthy debate from both coaching staff's, Jordan was ruled safe giving Tech runners at the corners. Willie Durazo got a base hit to right field in the next at-bat scoring Jon Slack from second and Tech got its second run of the inning on a double play groundout by Nick Blankenship that pushed across Scooter Jordan.

Missouri tied the score in the top of the eighth on an RBI single by Mick Weiss to knot the score at 6-6.

Jon Slack put Tech back in the lead with an RBI single up the middle and Willie Durazo delivered a bases loaded two RBI single giving the Red Raiders a 9-6 lead. Nick Blankenship picked up his 13th home run of the season when he dropped an inside slider over the left field to give Tech a 12-6 lead.

Steve Rowe (5-1) picked up his fifth win of the season in relief after pitching the final two innings allowing just two hits. Matt Hobbs (1-3) suffered the loss for Missouri as he gave up five earned runs in just 1 1/3 innings of work.