April 2, 2002

Box Score

LUBBOCK, Texas - Gera Alvarez went 3-for-3 with four RBI and a three-run home run to lead the No. 28 Texas Tech Red Raiders to a 7-3 win over Howard Payne on Tuesday night at Dan Law Field.

Texas Tech (24-13) scored the first run of the game when senior Nick Blankenship was hit-by-a- pitch with the bases loaded. Senior shortstop Gera Alvarez gave Tech a 2-0 lead with an RBI sacrifice fly to center field.

Howard Payne (16-10) cut the Tech lead in half in the top of the third when Ryan Rodgers hit a solo home run over the right center field fence.

Gera Alvarez gave Tech a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the third when he cranked a three-run home run over the left field wall. The home run extended his current hit streak to 18 games. Alvarez gave Tech a 6-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth when he a triple to straightaway center field and was able to score on the relay when the Howard Payne shortstop threw the ball into the Tech dugout.

Bryon Smith hit his fifth home run of the season over the right center field wall to push the Red Raider lead to 7-1.

The Yellowjackets got a two-run home run from leadoff hitter Oscar Luna in the top of the seventh to bring Howard Payne to within four.

J.J. Newman (1-) picked up his first win of the season for Texas Tech while Jesse Lopez (5-3) suffered the loss for Howard Payne.

Texas Tech returns to action on Friday night when the Red Raiders play host to the Kansas State Wildcats at 7 p.m. at Dan Law Field.