No. 11 Texas Tech rally stuns Jayhawks

LUBBOCK, Texas – The No. 11-ranked Texas Tech baseball team scored five runs the final four innings to defeat Kansas, 5-4, in comeback-fashion at Rip Griffin Park Friday afternoon.

The Jayhawks (15-14, 1-6 Big 12) jumped out to a four-run lead through the first five and a half innings before the Red Raiders (20-8, 4-3 Big 12) plated a trio of runs in the bottom of the sixth.

A single run in each of the final two innings off Kansas reliever Blake Goldsberry (2-4) completed the comeback for TTU that included a walk-off single with bases loaded and one out in the ninth.

Junior shortstop Benjamin Sems started the early Jayhawk rally with a RBI-single in the top of the second. A Red Raider throwing error in the sixth chalked up another KU run before Sems connected for a two-RBI single to make it a 4-0 lead.

Redshirt-junior Ryan Cyr started on the bump and pitched himself in and out of trouble until the bottom of the sixth when Texas Tech tagged him for a three-spot after he loaded the bases with nobody out.

After pulling within a run of the Jayhawks, 4-3, the Red Raiders went to the bullpen for the final two frames and kept Kansas off the board.

Brendt Citta was congratulated for scoring a run.

NOTABLES

  • With the loss, the Jayhawks have not beaten a top-25-ranked Texas Tech team in Lubbock since a 7-4 win on March 27, 2015.
  • That loss also moves KU’s all-time record in Big 12 play against a ranked Red Raider team to 7-18.
  • Junior shortstop Benjamin Sems recorded his fifth-career three-RBI game.
  • Redshirt-junior Ryan Cyr recorded his fifth quality start of the season.
Kansas Jayhawks

QUOTES
Head coach Ritch Price
On starting pitcher Ryan Cyr:

“I thought Ryan Cyr was absolutely special. That is a really good Texas Tech lineup. He gave us six great innings. He made good pitches when he needed to and kept them to just those three runs in the sixth. We made some big-time plays behind him too.”

On the outcome:

“We had an opportunity to win today – you still have to finish. We got into trouble and out of trouble earlier in the game. I thought we played as good as we could have played today, our effort was good and our defense was outstanding. We have to keep grinding.”

Junior shortstop Benjamin Sems
On his offensive approach:

“I felt really good at the plate. I was seeing the ball really well and my swing felt good.”

On the pitching performance:

“Our pitchers did a good job. Texas Tech is an offensive powerhouse. To keep us in the game all nine innings – (Ryan) Cyr pitched his tail off.”

On flushing today and regrouping for tomorrow:

“It is the little things for us we have to do better. We need to clean up some of the baserunning mistakes and once we make those adjustments, we are going to be fine.”

UP NEXT
The Jayhawks and Red Raiders meet for game two of the series Saturday, April 6 at Rip Griffin Park. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.

FOLLOW
/KansasBaseball
@KUbaseball
@KUbaseball