Sadberry, Texas Tech top Rice in College Classic

HOUSTON -- Texas Tech managed only two hits on Sunday against three Rice pitchers. However, the Red Raiders did pull out a win. The victory was their first in the 2014 Houston College Classic in three games and their first over the Owls since 1996.

The Red Raiders took advantage of a five-walk, two-run third inning to slip past the Owls, 2-1, at Minute Maid Park. On Friday and Saturday, Texas Tech lost to Houston (9-0) and Sam Houston State (10-6), respectively.

"We had a pretty tough weekend," said Texas Tech pitcher Chris Sadberry, who was dominant on Sunday. He had to be with the Red Raiders (9-3) struggling to get hits.

The left-handed Sadberry allowed only an unearned run and five hits with no walks and two strikeouts. Ryan Moseley finished the final 1 1/3 innings and got a big strikeout in the eighth inning. Moseley came in to face Michael Aquino with two runners on, and he struck out Aquino swinging to end the threat and the inning.

Sadberry (2-0) wasn't getting many strikeouts, but he was getting outs, lowering his ERA to 1.76.

"He had command of three pitches with good stuff on both sides of the plate," said Texas Tech coach Tim Tadlock. "That was the difference with him compared to our other two starters [over the weekend].

"He's a competitor and gives us a chance every week."

Rice starter Jon Duplantier (0-1) lasted only 2 2/3 innings. He issued five free passes in the third, walking Alec Humphreys and Anthony Lyons consecutively with the bases loaded. Ryan Long opened the bottom of the first with a single. The Red Raiders' other hit didn't come until Eric Gutierrez's two-out double in the seventh inning.

Rice (7-5), which got seven hits, two from Shane Hoelscher, scored in the seventh. Skyler Ewing crossed home on John Clay Reeves' single.