Big Inning Dooms 24th-ranked Kansas Baseball
April 17, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas –
Sophomore Jimmy Waters went 3-for-5, while KU’s offense produced 10 runs on 13 hits. However, the Jayhawks could not overcome a six-run sixth inning by Texas Tech, which broke open a one-run game as the Red Raiders knocked off No. 24 Kansas, 15-10, Friday evening at Dan Law Field.
The Jayhawks snap their six-game winning streak and fall to 24-13 overall and 7-6 in the Big 12. Tech improves to 17-23 overall and 8-8 in conference play.
After scoring four runs in the top of the first inning, KU played catch up most of the night as the Red Raiders set season highs in runs (15) and hits (21). Tech hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the first inning to answer KU’s four-run first.
The Red Raiders led 9-6 after three innings, knocking starting pitcher Shaeffer Hall out in the third inning, the junior’s shortest outing of his career.
However, the Jayhawks got within a run on a two-run homer by Preston Land in the top of the sixth inning. The one-out round-tripper was Land’s first of the year and first since the Texas Tech series in 2008.
The home team answered the blast by sending 10 men to the plate in their half of the sixth to build an insurmountable lead. The big hit was a two-out, two-run single by Taylor Ashby, who was one of seven Tech players with multiple hits Friday.
KU’s offense was paced by Waters, who had three hits, while Buck Afenir, Tony Thompson and Jason Brunansky each had two hits in the game. Thompson extended his hitting streak to 14 games, tying his own streak from earlier in the season.
Kansas will look to even the series Saturday with game two of the three-game series at Dan Law Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. Fans can tune in to the game on KLWN (1320 AM).
