May 16, 2004

Box Score |  Notes

STILLWATER, Okla. - Texas Tech scored nine runs in the top of the ninth inning on four home runs including a game winning grand slam by junior center fielder Cody Fuller that gave the Red Raiders a most improbable comeback over No. 22 Oklahoma State 11-8 on Sunday afternoon in front of a senior day crowd of 2,117 fans at Reynolds Stadium.

The miraculous comeback will go down as one of the single greatest comebacks in Tech history and improved the Red Raiders to 34-17 on the year and 14-9 in Big 12 play. The win ensures Texas Tech's hold on fourth place in the Big 12 standings despite Baylor's sweep of Nebraska and Texas A&M's 2-1 series win over Kansas State. Oklahoma State falls to 33-18 overall and to 15-8 in the Big 12.

The fireworks began in the top of the ninth as junior center fielder Cody Fuller led off with a hard hit single through the left side (just Tech's third total hit of the afternoon) and Cameron Blair followed with a two-run home run that bounced off the screen in left field. Michael Mask then reached base on a fielding error by first baseman Mario Matulich and Josh Haney pulled Tech to within one when he hit a two-run homer to left. Madison Edwards recorded the first out of the inning in the next at-bat when he flew out to center field.

Head Coach Larry Hays elected to pinch-hit Dallas Braden for Ryan Andrews after OSU pulled starter Scott Richmond for Daniel Rew. Braden responded with a double to the gap in right-center and Jose Delgado followed up with a walk and Matthew Coco singled to left to load the bases. Down in the count 0-2, Cody Fuller came up with his second hit of the inning and it was the biggest of his career as he launched a grand slam home run over the wall in left field to give the Red Raiders their first lead of the day 10-7. The grand slam was the first of his Red Raider career and was just his second home run of the season. Tech wasn't through there as Blair came up to the plate and hit his second home run of the inning when he belted a solo dinger that landed on the playing field at the Oklahoma State softball stadium in deep left.

The Cowboys managed a single run in the bottom of the ninth on an error by the right fielder Edwards but Corey Gerstner ended the game by striking out Mario Matulich.

Oklahoma State took an early 2-0 lead in the ballgame as the Cowboys scored single runs in the second and third innings. The Cowboys punched out a total of nine hits in the first four innings off Tech starter Michael McGowan.

Cowboy starter Scott Richmond had a no-hitter going into the top of the fifth and it was finally broken up by Edwards who singled up the middle with one out. Junior second baseman Jose Delgado tied the score when he hit a two-run home run over the fence in right-center.

Oklahoma State regained the lead in the bottom half of the fifth on a three-run home run by catcher Jason Jaramillo. The three-run home run was set up by Rusty Ryal who reached on a fielding error by third baseman Josh Haney and an intentional walk of Josh Fields. Jaramillo's three-run blast went over the wall in right field and was his first home run in Big 12 play this season.

Corey Gerstner (7-1) picked up the win in relief as he pitched the final two innings and allowed just one unearned run on two hits and struckout two. Daniel Rew (5-7) suffered the loss for Oklahoma State as he gave up five earned runs on four hits in just 2/3 of an inning.

Texas Tech will wrap up the 2004 regular-season this week with a four-game home stand as Tech will play New Mexico State on Tuesday night and Baylor over the weekend. First pitch for Tuesday's game against New Mexico State is set for 6:30 p.m. For tickets, please call the Texas Tech Athletic Ticket Office at 1-888-GO-BIG12 or log on to www.texastech.com.