May 26, 2004

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

ARLINGTON, Texas - Baylor avenged last weekend's three-game sweep by Texas Tech as the Bears defeated the 22nd-ranked Red Raiders 8-3 on Wednesday morning in the first game of the 2004 Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament.

The loss snapped Texas Tech's six game win streak and marked the first time that the Red Raiders have lost their first round game in the Big 12 Tournament since 2000 (8-4 loss to Texas).

Junior first baseman Josh Brady got the Red Raiders rolling early as he reached on a leadoff triple from the first offering by starter Trey Taylor. Brady put Tech ahead 1-0 when he crossed home plate after Cody Fuller (reached on a hit-by-pitch) got caught in a run down between first and second.

Baylor came back and tied the game when Josh Ford delivered a two-out solo home run over the left field wall. The home run was his 14th of the season.

Junior designated hitter Matthew Coco gave Tech the lead again in the bottom of the second when he hit a leadoff home run over the wall in center. Coco's solo home run was his seventh dinger of the year and the first since the game against Kansas on May 1.

The bottom half of the Baylor lineup came up huge for the Bears in the top of the third as they picked up three runs on a Big 12 record three doubles. Baylor added two more runs in the top of the fifth on a fielding error by Tech pitcher Steven Thomas and a sacrifice fly by Kyle Reynolds.

Cameron Blair, who finished the day 3-for-3, scored what turned out to be Tech's final run of the game when he doubled down the left field line allowing Brady to score from third.

Mike Pankratz put the lid on any possible Tech comeback in the ninth when he belted a two-run homer to right-center in the top of the ninth. The homer pushed the Baylor lead to 8-3.

Steven Thomas fell to 3-7 on the year as he allowed five earned runs on eight hits in just 4 1/3 innings of work. Trey Taylor earned the win for Baylor as he struckout seven batters and allowed just three earned runs over seven innings.

Texas Tech moves on to the loser's bracket and will face the loser of the Missouri/Oklahoma game at 10 a.m. on Thursday morning. The winner of Thursday's elimination game will play again at 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon.