Texas Tech Athletics
Nebraska
Texas Tech Splits Doubleheader At Nebraska
March 25, 2000 | Baseball
March 25, 2000
After playing just one extra-inning game this season, the Texas Tech baseball team played a pair of extra-inning affairs on Saturday at Buck Beltzer Stadium. Nebraska won the opener 7-6 in 10 innings and the Red Raiders took game two 7-5 in 11 innings. With the split, Texas Tech moved into a four-way tie for fifth place in the Big 12 at 6-6.
In game one, the Red Raides jumped out to an early 5-3 lead as they chased Nebraska starter Jamie Rodrigue after four innings. Rodrigue entered the game with two straight shutouts in Big 12 play. Tech added one run in the sixth to make the score 6-3.
Texas Tech held a 6-3 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, but were unable to hold on as Nebraska scored three to tie the game at 6-6. Kevin Tracey entered the game in the eighth with the score 6-3 and two men on base for starter Cory Metzler. After allowing a sacrifice fly to make the game 6-4, Tracey gave up just his second home run of the season, a two-run shot by Brandt Vlieger, to tie the game at 6-6.
After a scoreless ninth inning by both teams, Nebraska loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the tenth. With Vlieger at the plate, John Cole scored on a Tracey wild pitch to make the game 7-6 and give the Cornhuskers the victory.
Scott Holzhauer led Texas Tech at the plate with a home run, double, two runs and two RBI while going 3-5. He was just a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. Chaz Eiguren went 2-5 with a solo home run, two runs and an RBI for the Red Raiders. Tracey was credited with the loss for Texas Tech after allowing two runs on three hits, a walk and a strikeout in two innings of relief. Metzler went 7.1 innings allowing five runs on seven hits, five walks and three strikeouts.
In the second game, the Cornhuskers held a 5-2 lead after six innings. In the top of the eighth the Red Raiders scored three runs to even the score at 5-5. Texas Tech sent nine batters to the plate and scored the three runs on four hits.
After Tech tied the game in the top of the eighth, left-hander Blake McGinley came out of the bullpen to relieve starter Kevin Tracey. McGinley held the Cornhuskers scoreless over the last four innings on just two hits, a walk and a strikeout.
After the Red Raiders went in order in the ninth and 10th innings, Tech rallied for a pair runs in the 11th to take the 7-5 lead for good. With two outs, Chad Landry blasted his fourth home run of the year to right field. The two-run towering homer scored Chaz Eiguren and gave the Red Raiders the 7-5 lead.
In the bottom half of the 11th, McGinley retired three of four batters to earn his second straight win. Tracey allowed five runs (four earned) on 10 hits, three walks and eight strikeouts over seven innings of work. Chad Reynolds faced one batter in the eighth and allowed a single. McGinley, tossed four scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and a walk.
Texas Tech now stands at 18-16 on the season and 6-6 in the conference. The Red Raiders will return to Dan Law Field on Tuesday to play TCU at 2:30 p.m. Kansas State will be in Lubbock next weekend for a three-game set. The first pitch of that series will be Friday night at 7 p.m.
