Texas Tech Baseball used a grand slam by catcher Bo Altobelli and six solid innings on the mound from starting pitcher John Neeley to defeat the over matched Houston Cougars 15-4 Friday night in Lubbock. Houston made their first appearance at Dan Law Field in Rip Griffin Park since the final year of the Southwest Conference in 1996.

The Red Raiders (20-15) and Cougars (12-19-1)  got off to the races quickly with Houston scoring two runs in the top of the 1st and Texas Tech answering with three runs of their own for a 3-2 lead. Texas Tech never look back in the game as they plated three runs in the 4th inning and two more in the next inning for a commanding 8-2 lead.

The Red Raiders finally awoke their bats with five batters earning multi-hit games including Stephen Hagen going 2-5 with 2 RBI, Tim Proudfoot going 2-4 with 3 runs scored, and Altobelli with a 2-5 performance with 5 RBI. Altobelli’s second career grand slam sparked a six-run bottom of the eighth inning for the Red Raiders.

Tech and Houston will continue its weekend series on Saturday, April 14 with a 5 p.m. first-pitch at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park. Texas Tech will start sophomore right-handed pitcher Duke von Schamann (4-3) while Houston has not announced a starting pitcher for Saturday or Sunday.

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