SAN ANTONIO ? Texas Tech exploded for 10 runs in the top of the first and Red Raiders starting pitcher Cory Large was perfect for 5.2 innings in a 16-6 victory against UTSA on Monday afternoon in the final game of the season-opening UTSA Baseball Classic at Wolff Stadium.
Tech evened its record at 2-2 with the 10-run victory and the Roadrunners saw their two-game winning streak snapped in falling to 2-2 on the year.
Doug Thennis took UTSA starter Kris Ruepke's first pitch in a Roadrunners uniform over the left field wall to start the game and the Red Raiders put the next six hitters on base to chase Ruepke (0-1) from the game. Junior Cody Graham came in from the bullpen and recorded back-to-back outs, but the next Tech five hitters reached base before the final out of the frame was recorded. All told, 15 Red Raiders went the plate during the 10-run outburst, eight of which recorded base hits and four others hitters walked.
It was a little less than two years ago to the day that the Red Raiders put up a 10-spot in the fourth inning in the previous meeting between the two teams (Feb. 27, 2005, at the Rockhounds College Classic in Midland).
Texas Tech added two runs in the second, a tally in the third and two more in the sixth to stake Large (1-0) to an insurmountable 15-0 advantage.
The 6-foot-2 left-hander retired the first 17 hitters he faced and it wasn't until junior shortstop Lance Brown was hit by a full-count fastball with two down in the sixth that the Roadrunners had their first base runner. Ironically enough, it was Brown who broke up Mark Serrano's no-hit bid for Oral Roberts during the eighth inning of Friday's season opener.
Junior second baseman James Keithley then broke up the no-hitter with a single through the left side of the infield to put runners on first and second. Sophomore designated hitter Tim Palincsar's double down the left-field line brought home freshman Ryan Hutson, who had pinch ran for Brown, with UTSA's first run and end Large's shutout bid. Junior center fielder Michael Rockett followed with a double that brought home two more runners.
The Roadrunners added three more runs in the seventh on sophomore third baseman Ryan Rummel's RBI single, sophomore Eric Johnston's sacrifice fly to center and Palincsar's run-scoring single through the ride side.
Every Red Raider starter on offense had a hit, led by Chris Hall's 3-for-5 effort. All-American Roger Kieschnick and Jason Seefeld added three RBIs apiece.
Palincsar was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and Hernandez and Rummel both had two hits for the Roadrunners.
UTSA returns to action on Friday night when it begins a four-game weekend series against Sacred Heart (0-0) at Wolff Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. and senior righty Steven Vasquez (0-1, 4.15 ERA) will get the nod on the mound for the Roadrunners.