Texas Tech Athletics
Temple
Texas Tech Eliminates Temple From NCAA Regionals
May 26, 2001 | Baseball
May 26, 2001
FULLERTON, Calif. - Texas Tech pounded out 14 runs on 17 hits against Temple to eliminate the Owls from the NCAA Fullerton Regional in Fullerton, Calif. Texas Tech will now await the loser of the Cal-State Fullerton/Arizona State contest for another elimination game tonight at 8 p.m..
Texas Tech (41-19-1) took control of the game straight out of the shoot as freshman Brent Fossum led off the game with a solo home run over the left field wall. Temple hurler Jeff Rugg hit designated hitter Austin Cranford to set up a two run homer by Gera Alvarez giving Tech a 3-0 lead. Tech added two more runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 5-0 advantage heading into the top of the second.
Temple got its first hit of the game in the top of the third inning when center fielder Bob Filler hit a single to right field where Kerry Hodges was able to field the ball cleanly and make spectacular throw to home plate to throw out --- Roma. The Owls were able to get on the board in the inning as Jim Tully and Kyle Sweppenhiser put up back-to-back singles allowing Filler to score the lone run.
The Red Raiders put the game in cruise control in the middle innings as Tech put up six runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take an 11-1 lead. Tech put up five runs in the bottom of the fifth thanks to four Red Raider hits and two Temple miscues.
Bryon Smith hit his second home run of the tournament in the bottom of the sixth inning when pummeled a two run shot to straightaway center field. The home run was Tech's third of the afternoon and the eighth of Smith's career.
Temple's Chris Krusen gave the Owls their second run of the game in the top of the seventh inning when he hit a solo shot over the left field fence. Temple put up another run in the top of the eighth on an RBI triple by Rob Cucinotta.
Nick Blankenship wrote himself into the Texas Tech history books as he is now tied for seventh place with former Red Raider greats Jason Totman and Kevin Jordan for the most number of hits in a single season. He needs just two more hits to occupy sole possession of sixth place on the all-time list.
Cory Metzler picked up the win for Texas Tech and improved his season record to 6-3. Metzler pitched his first complete game of the season and allowed three runs on nine hits with five strikeouts. The losing pitcher for Temple was Jeff Rugg who falls to 8-6 on the season.
Nick Blankenship, Tyler Carson and Kerry Hodges each tallied three hits on the afternoon while Bryon Smith knocked in a team-high four RBI.
Texas Tech will await the loser of the 4:30 p.m. contest with Cal-State Fullerton and Arizona State for an 8 p.m. evening match-up.
