Feb. 21, 1998

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- The University of Santa Clara handed Texas Tech its fourth loss of the young season on a 9-4 decision Saturday at Phoenix' Municipal Stadium. The loss drops Texas Tech to 8-4 on the season and improves Santa Clara to 8-3.

Santa Clara took an early 2-1 lead in the second inning, fended off a Tech comeback to tie (3-3) in the third and put the Red Raiders away with a two-inning fifth and three-run seventh.

Santa Clara collected 18 hits and nine runs (eight earned) off Red Raider pitching. Kevin Okimoto led the Bronco charge with four hits and three RBI.

Texas Tech was led by Mark Austry who finished 4-4 with two runs scored. Miles Durham collected two hits and drove home an RBI, Jason Landreth went 1-3 with an RBI and Ryan Ruiz finished 1-3 with an RBI.

Tech's Eric Cooper (0-1) earned his first loss of the season after pitching 4.0 innings and allowing eight runs and five runs (all earned). Santa Clara's Ryan Bulich (2-0) earned the victory in 6.1 innings.

LINESCORE                        R   H  E
Texas Tech      011  000  110    4  10  1
Santa Clara     021  020  31x    9  18  0
TTU: Cooper, Stewart (5), Watkins (7) and J. Smith (7) and Buckley.  USC:
Bulich and Rice (7) and Laubach.  WP: Bulich (USC) 2-0.  LP: Cooper (TTU)
0-1.  Save: None.  Doubles: TTU- Austry (1), Rodriguez (3), Buckley (2),
Durham (5).  USC- Okimoto 2.  Triples: USC- Mott.  Home Runs: None.  TOG:
3:22.  Att: 125