February 12, 1999

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Junior 1B Mark Austry hit a two-run home run with two out in the top of the ninth inning to erase a one- run deficit and lift the No. 13 Texas Tech baseball team to a 9-8 victory over No. 4 USC at Dedeaux Field on Friday afternoon.

USC (1-5) lost its fifth in a row. The Trojans last lost five in a row in 1988 and last started the season 1-5 in 1982. Texas Tech improved to 6-0.

The Trojans committed five errors, which led to four unearned runs. The two runs that the Red Raiders scored on Austry's home run in the ninth were unearned.

USC took a 4-1 lead after three innings as senior CF Brad Ticehurst hit a two-run single in the top of the first and senior 2B Dominic Correa and Ticehurst hit back-to-back solo homers in the third inning.

But the Red Raiders rallied to take a 7-4 lead after six innings. Three runs were scored in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by senior LF Ryan Ruiz and a two-run triple by junior RF Jon Weber.

USC jumped back in the lead, 8-7, with four runs in the bottom of the seventh. Junior C Eric Munson slugged a three-run home run to left field and senior pinch-hitter Justin Lehr knocked an RBI double.

In the top of the ninth, junior C Josh Bard reached on an error. Following a fielder's choice and a strikeout, Austry launched a ball over the center-field wall to give Texas Tech the lead.

Lehr (0-1) took the loss for the Trojans. Junior RHP Chris Sampson (1-0) got the win in relief and junior RHP Brandon Roberson pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save.

USC and Texas Tech meet again on Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 13-14) at 1 p.m. at Dedeaux Field. Prior to the Saturday game, at 12:45 p.m., USC will honor its 1998 NCAA championship team and raise the 12th championship flag.

TT 010-213-002 --- 9-13-1 

USC 202-000-400 --- 8-11-5 

Ralston, Weber (7), Stewart (7), Sampson (9), Simpson (9), Roberson (9) and
Bard, Lunsford (9). 

Currier, Flores (6), Immel (8), Lehr (8) and Munson. 

WP -- Sampson (1-0) LP -- Lehr (0-1) SV -- Roberson (1) 

HR: USC -- Munson (2), Correa (2), Ticehurst (2); TT -- Austry (1).