Go Bears!
GO Bears!
Go Bears!
Poor Defense Costs Bears in 9-8 Loss to Texas Tech
Six errors lead to four unearned runs in narrow defeat.
Sophomore Josh Ford had three hits in Baylor's 9-8 loss Saturday.

Sophomore Josh Ford had three hits in Baylor's 9-8 loss Saturday.

March 15, 2003

Box Score

WACO, Texas - Six Baylor errors led to four unearned runs as No. 20 Texas Tech skipped past No. 8 Baylor Saturday afternoon at Baylor Ballpark, 9-8.

The six errors by the Bears (16-6, 1-1 Big 12) doubled their previous season-high total of three. Four of those six errors came in the first inning, as Texas Tech (17-7, 1-1 Big 12) scored four unearned runs off Baylor starter Trey Taylor.

After the first two batters reached on an error by Trey Webb and a walk, seven-hole hitter Cody Fuller attempted to sacrifice bunt the runners into scoring position. Taylor fielded the ball cleanly and attempted to force the lead runner at third, but his throw bounced and all hands were safe.

Second baseman Josh Haney then singled to drive in Texas Tech's first run, but after a strikeout, it looked like Taylor might escape the inning without further damage when leadoff man T.J. Bruce hit a grounder to third baseman Paul Witt. Witt's throw to second not only sailed over Mark Saccomanno's head into right field, but it rolled under rightfielder David Murphy's glove as all three runners scored and Bruce ended up on third base.

Tech added a single run in the fourth on a double, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly to push its lead to 5-0, but the Bears' offense came to life in the bottom of the fifth. Baylor scored five times in the inning to tie the game, with the big hit being Michael Griffin's bases-loaded triple to left-center. Seth Fortenberry doubled in Griffin, and Saccomanno's sacrifice fly later in the frame scored Fortenberry from third to tie the game at 5-5.

 

 

Tech loaded the bases in the fourth with one out on a single, an error by Fortenberry in left and a hit batsman. Freshman Ryan LaMotta came in for Taylor and got a line out to third, then a strikeout to strand all three Red Raiders and preserve the tie.

Baylor took advantage of two Tech errors in the sixth to score twice and take a 7-5 lead. A throwing error by Bruce put Chris Durbin on second to lead off the inning, and back-to-back hits by Murphy and Josh Ford brought home Durbin. Bennett followed with a comeback grounder to the pitcher, whose throw forced Ford at second, but the relay throw hit off first baseman Doug Beck's glove, allowing Bennett to reach safely and Murphy to come around to score.

Texas Tech pieced together three singles and a sacrifice bunt in the sixth off LaMotta to once again tie the game, this time at 7-7. Third baseman Christian Colonel's two-RBI single to left was the big hit in the inning off LaMotta.

After starting the seventh inning on the mound, junior Zane Carlson (0-2) gave up the deciding runs in the eighth and took the loss. After retiring the first two batters on three pitches, Carlson gave up a single, walked two batters, and gave up a two-RBI single to designated hitter Evan Shahak on a 1-2 pitch that brought in the game-winning runs.

Baylor attempted to rally in the bottom of the ninth. Durbin walked to start the inning, and Murphy followed with a single to right. After unsuccessfully attempting to bunt the runners over, Josh Ford sent a long fly ball to left that was caught for the first out but advanced Durbin to third. Bennett followed with a sacrifice fly to right that scored Durbin, cutting the lead to 9-8, but Griffin bounced out to shortstop to end the game.

Junior Jeff Karstens (5-0) earned the win, throwing five innings in relief of starter Juan Razo. Razo allowed six hits and six runs (five earned) in the first four innings, but was replaced after Durbin reached in the fifth. Karstens gave up just four hits and two runs (one earned), walking three and striking out one.

Baylor's defense had been a strong point early in the season, as the Bears made just nine errors in their first 13 games. Including Saturday, Baylor has now made 20 errors in the team's last nine games.

Texas Tech and Baylor will meet again Sunday at 1 p.m. in the rubber match of the series.

NOTES: In addition to the season-high six errors, the Bears also handed out seven walks, their highest total of the year... Ross Bennett saw his career-best 10-game hitting streak come to an end with an 0-for-3 day.