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Oklahoma State Ends Tech's Season With 4-3 Win
May 18, 2003 | Baseball
May 18, 2003
LUBBOCK, Texas - Oklahoma State third baseman Josh Fields hit a two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning to lift the Cowboys to a 4-3 win over Texas Tech on Sunday afternoon at Dan Law Field.
The loss eliminates Texas Tech from next week's Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City marking the first time in the history of the Big 12 that the Red Raiders have not qualified for the post-season tournament. This year also marks the first year since 1992 that Texas Tech has not been to the post-season conference tournament (SWC or Big 12).
Oklahoma State picked up the first lead of the game when Scott Kirby hit a solo home run over the left field wall to give the Cowboys a 1-0 lead in the top of the second.
Texas Tech immediately responded as the Red Raiders scored three in the bottom half of the inning to take a two-run lead. Josh Haney delivered the big hit of the inning when he laced a two-RBI double down the left field line.
The score remained 3-1 over the next five innings as Tech starter Steve Gooch held the Cowboys to just three hits.
Oklahoma State began its rally in the eighth as a fielding error by T.J. Bruce put Chris Gutierrez on first with one out in the inning. Jose Virgil plated Gutierrez with a sacrifice fly to center field pulling the Cowboys within one (3-2). With a runner on second and two outs, Josh Fields gave the Cowboys the lead when he cranked a two-run home run over the left field wall. All three runs in the inning were unearned due to Bruce's error.
Oklahoma State reliever Shane Hawk (7-3) held Tech at bay over the next two innings to pick up his seventh win of the season. Hawk pitched 2 1/3 innings without giving up a hit.
Steve Gooch (4-5) suffered the loss despite a stellar effort on the mound in which he gave up just one earned run and seven hits through eight innings of work.
Texas Tech finishes the 2003 season with an overall record of 30-25 and 8-18 in the Big 12. Tech's ninth-place finish in the Big 12 is the worst since 1985 when Tech finished eighth in the Southwest Conference.
