Late KU rally comes up short in extra-inning loss to Texas Tech, 4-2

LAWRENCE, Kan. — A solo home run by Jessie Roane and an RBI triple by Sam Dellinger powered a comeback that forced extra innings, but Kansas softball’s late rally came up short in a 4-2 eight-inning loss to Texas Tech on Friday evening in front of a packed house at Arrocha Ballpark Rock Chalk Park.

Roane, KU’s senior third baseman, extended her hitting streak to four games as she continued to scorch opponent pitching of late — she is now 10-for-20 at the plate in the last seven games. Senior catcher Harli Ridling joined Roane with a two-hit day, while Dellinger recorded her first-career triple in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Kansas (25-22, 0-13 Big 12) and Texas Tech (23-24, 3-13) battled through the three scoreless innings before the Red Raiders put up two runs in the top of the fourth inning.

Tech scored its first run on a throwing error as KU attempted to throw out a runner advancing from first to third on a single. Later, TTU catcher Kelcy Leach laid down a textbook bunt between home plate and the pitching circle to allow Tech’s second run to score from third base. The Jayhawks got out of the fourth inning as freshman shortstop Shelby Gayre turned a line-drive 6-3 double play.

Despite a one-out double by Ridling in the bottom of the fourth, Kansas remained scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings. But the Jayhawks kept grinding.

In the bottom of the sixth, Roane sent an 0-2 pitch over the centerfield fence to cut Texas Tech’s lead in half, 2-1.

In the bottom of the seventh, freshman designated player Tarin Travieso drew a four-pitch walk with one out. Senior Mikayla Warren entered for Travieso as a pinch runner to setup Dellinger’s RBI triple — a first-pitch hit to left-center, scoring Warren easily from first base.

But in the next half inning the Red Raiders responded with a two-run home run by Jessica Hartwell to take the go-ahead 4-2 lead.

TTU’s Kassidy Scott (8-9) received the win in the circle after throwing eight innings with two strikeouts. Junior pitcher Andie Formby (11-9) recorded four strikeouts in her 13th complete-game of the season — eight innings and 95 pitches.

Kansas falls to 4-3 in extra innings this season.

Friday’s attendance of 957 marked a season high at Arrocha Ballpark at Rock Chalk Park.

UP NEXT
Game two of the series between Kansas and Texas Tech is Saturday at 2 p.m.

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