April 29, 2003

Box Score

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Junior first baseman Christian Colonel had a career-high five hits with four RBI and Texas Tech scored three runs in the top of the ninth to defeat the New Mexico Lobos 11-8 on Tuesday afternoon at Lobo Field. The win gives Texas Tech the season-long series win 3-2.

Texas Tech (26-20) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Scooter Jordan drew a one-out walk and Christian Colonel scored him with an RBI single to left-center.

New Mexico (30-19) didn't waste any time as the Lobos rang up two runs to take a 2-1 lead as Tech starter Justin Cleveland gave up four hits and one walk in the inning.

Junior shortstop T.J. Bruce tied the game in the top of the second when he laced an RBI single by New Mexico second baseman Ryan Barba. Bruce's single scored T.J. Bruce from second as he led off the inning with a single up the middle.

A two-run home run and an RBI double by Josh Haney gave Texas Tech a 5-2 lead in the top of the third. Texas Tech hit New Mexico starter Aaron Smith for three doubles and a home run.

New Mexico scored two runs in the fourth after scoring one in the third to tie the game at 5-5. Cory Lizarraga scored on a passed ball by Tech catcher Madison Edwards and A.J. Spitaleri scored on a RBI single by Ryan Barba.

The Lobos mounted a two-out three-run rally in the bottom of the fifth to take an 8-5 lead over the Red Raiders. A.J. Spitaleri dealt the big blow in the inning when he delivered a two-RBI triple to right-center. The triple was his third hit of the game.

Josh Haney led off the top of the sixth with a walk and Cody Fuller reached on a single through the left side to give Tech runners at first and second. T.J. Bruce tied the game for the Red Raiders as he hit a three-run home run over the center field monster. The home run was his third of the season and his second at Lobo Field this season.

With the game tied at 8-8, junior Brent Fossum picked up his first hit of the game when he led off the top of the ninth with a solo home run that went sailing over the left field wall. Tech tacked on two more runs in the inning as Christian Colonel picked up his fifth hit and fourth RBI, scoring Scooter Jordan from third. Cody Fuller gave Tech a three-run lead when he delivered a two-out RBI single that plated Colonel from third. Colonel finished the game with a career-high five hits and tied his career-high with four RBI.

Reliever Corey Gerstner (3-2) earned the win for Texas Tech as he retired the final 11 batters of the game and pitched four innings allowing just one hit. Joe Salas fell to 0-5 as he suffered the loss in relief for New Mexico.

Texas Tech returns to action this weekend as the Red Raiders will travel to Norman, Okla., for a three-game series against the Oklahoma Sooners. First pitch on Friday night is set for 7:05 p.m.