Feb. 20, 2011
Site: Lubbock, Texas (Dan Law Field)
Score: Texas Tech 8, Northwestern 6
Records: NU (1-3), Texas Tech (4-0)
Next NU Event: Date -- vs. Georgetown (Winston-Salem, N.C.), 9 a.m. CT
LUBBOCK, Texas -- Northwestern scored five runs in the top of the fourth inning to take the lead but couldn't hold off host Texas Tech in falling 8-6 in Sunday's finale of the Red Raider Classic.
The Red Raiders got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning, getting a two-out, two-run single from Kelby Tomlinson off freshman left-hander Dan Tyson.
NU would answer right back with a solo tally in the top of the third. Nick Linne started the frame with a single, advanced to third on an error and scored on a single to left by Trevor Stevens. The Wildcats had runners at second and third with one out, but Red Raiders got a rare 3-6-2-5 double play to maintain the lead.
However, Texas Tech got the run right back plus one more in the bottom half of the frame on a two-run homer by Stephen Hagen to put the hosts in front 4-1.
The Red Raiders replaced starting pitcher Ben Flora with Aaron Corwin to open the fourth inning, but the move backfired. Corwin faced five batters but wasn't able to retire any of them. Following consecutive walks to Chris Lashmet and Geoff Rowan, Chris Kontos made it 4-2 with a double down the left field line. A two-run double by Jack Havey tied the game before Linne put the Wildcats in front as he tripled to right and scored on a throwing error, and suddenly NU found itself in front 6-4.
David Paiz then came on to replace Corwin and set down the next three Northwestern batters in order to end the inning.
Texas Tech got right back to even with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and then took the lead for good with two more in the fifth.
What looked like it was going to be a shootout turned into a pitchers' battle the rest of the way as neither team would score again. NU threatened in the eighth, putting runners at the corners with one out, but the Red Raiders got a double play to end the threat.
John Neely worked around a two-out triple by Rowan in the top of the ninth to earn the save.
Kontos paced the Northwestern offense with three hits. Trevor Stevens, who hit safely in all four games, collected two hits as did Linne and Rowan. Matt Gailey took the loss for the Wildcats. Paul Snieder pitched two scoreless frames for NU.
Northwestern returns to action next Friday through Sunday, playing Georgetown, host Wake Forest and Towson in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook! and subscribe to the NU Sports Express e-newsletter to receive the latest news, schedule updates and video and to interact with NU. For more information on following specific Northwestern teams online, visit our Social Media page!