Jayhawks no match for No. 5 Texas Tech bats
LAWRENCE, Kan. – No. 5 Texas Tech pounded 15 hits off Jayhawk pitching, as the Kansas baseball team dropped game one of the conference series, 15-6, Friday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark.
The Jayhawks (17-12, 2-5 Big 12) sent four different pitchers to the mound in relief of starter Tyler Davis (0-2) in an attempt to keep the Red Raiders’ (25-6, 4-3 Big 12) bats at bay. However, TTU connected for seven hits off those four arms and finished the day with 15 hits including six for extra bases.
“Texas Tech took us apart today,” head coach Ritch Price said. “They are one of the better offensive clubs, not only in our conference, but in the country. They are experienced and explosive one through nine in the order.”
That lineup hit KU pitching for four doubles and two home runs, including a grand slam by second baseman Gabe Holt, who finished the day 3-for-5 with six RBIs and four runs scored.
The Jayhawks did their best to keep pace, scoring six runs off nine hits and tagging TTU starter Davis Martin (5-0) for two of those runs.
Sophomore designated hitter Brett Vosik (1-for-4) drove in the first run of the game in the first inning to give Kansas its only lead. Later, senior Luke Bakula came off the bench and roped a two-run double in the ninth. Seven other players tallied at least one hit with five driving in a run.
“We are one of the better offensive teams in our conference,” Price said. “That is the one thing we have continued to do is swing the bats well. I was also pleased with the way we played defense today. I think it is remarkable with how difficult those conditions were out there that neither team made an error.”
Those conditions Price referred to consisted of temperatures in the mid-30s with wind chills reaching 22 degrees Fahrenheit. It marked the 19th home game for the Jayhawks and another contest where the game-time temperature was below their home average of 41.8 degrees.
UP NEXT
Kansas and Texas Tech continue the series Saturday, April 7, with a 2 p.m. first pitch. Prior to the start of the game, the Jayhawks will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the 1993 College World Series team.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Nine-spot: Texas Tech scored nine runs in the fourth inning to take a 14-1 lead at the time. The Red Raiders used six hits – three singles, two doubles and a grand slam – to drive in those nine runs. Two of those runs were charged to starter Tyler Davis, while the other seven fell to KU reliever Jonah Ulane.
FOLLOW /KansasBaseball
@KUbaseball
@KUbaseball
KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.
