Tech Gets Big Win ; Honor Virginia Tech Hokies

By Jay Langley - Special to KLBK.com (Lubbock) - Despite pitching the first 1-0 shutout for the Red Raiders since 2005, Tech pitcher AJ Ramos said his effort Friday night at Dan Law Field was nothing out of the ordinary. "It was OK," Ramos said of his effort. "I just think I could have pitched a little better than that." Ramos (8-2) lowered his ERA to 3.91, throwing 137 pitches and allowing just three hits over nine innings. "AJ was great tonight," Tech coach Larry Hays said. "He started off the first couple of innings with a lead off walk and a hit batter and he just stayed out there and battled. He did a good job of giving us a chance to win by just competing and not giving them anything." Tech (23-16, 6-9 Big 12) scored its lone run in the bottom of the first inning when Roger Kieschnick plated Jason Seefeld with a single to right field. Kieschnick said he did not think after he got the RBI it would be the difference in the game. "We had five or six hits in two innings with two stolen bases but we could only get one run out of it," he said. "But Im glad it held up. AJ pitched a great game." Kansas (19-24, 5-11 Big 12) did not get its first hit until the sixth when centerfielder Kyle Murphy hit a single to left field. The Jayhawks best scoring chance came in the fifth when a two base error by Techs Doug Thennis allowed Ryne Price to get into scoring position with one out. But after Price moved to third base on a ground out, Ramos struck out Kansas Justin Ellrich to end the inning. "Its a battle out there between the pitcher and the batter," Ramos said. "I dont want to lose any of the battles." Hays said the lack of offense by both teams could be attributed to both solid pitching and the weather conditions. "Ive never had a year at Dan Law where the wind blows in all the time like this year," Hays said. "It just kills our offense. We got thrown out on the bases a lot tonight and with the wind blowing in youve got to try some things. We tried a lot of things that dont fit us as a team." Ramos said he was glad Hays had the confidence in him to let him go the full nine innings. "I never want to get out of the game," Ramos said. "I want to stay in there and pitch a complete game unless Im not doing too good. Today I was going good. I felt good on the mound. Everything wasnt great but I just dealt with what I had." Prior to Fridays game the Red Raider Baseball Team and Texas Tech Athletic Department honored the victims of the Virginia Tech Tragedy with a moment of silence. The Red Raiders and Jayhawks even took batting practice wearing Virginia Tech Hokie T-Shirts. Friday`s game also marked the first of five games over a five day period for the Tech baseball team. Hays said the effort by Ramos was important because the pitching staff should be rested and able to withstand the stretch of games. "That was huge," Hays said. "He did a lot of good for a lot of reasons." Because of the threat of bad weather Saturdays first pitch against Kansas has been moved from the original start time of 2 p.m. to a noon first pitch.