Ice Cold in Kansas

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas would unload nine runs and keep Texas Tech hitless through the first four innings en route to a commanding 9-1 win Saturday afternoon in front of 779 fans at Hoglund Ballpark.

With the loss, Texas Tech drops below .500 for the first time since early March at 17-18 overall and 4-10 in the Big 12, while Kansas improves to 21-16 and 3-8 in conference.

As they have all season, walks plagued the Red Raiders in the first inning, as Tech starter AJ Ramos would walk the bases loaded following a leadoff double by Casey Larson. The Red Raiders would get out of the inning allowing two runs after Ryne Price grounded into a double play and Erik Morrison popped out to second baseman Willie Rueda.

Buck Afenir would add another run for the Jayhawks in the third inning off a sacrifice fly that scored Robby Price. Ryne Price would immediately add another run for Kansas on an RBI double that fell just in front of a diving Doug Thennis. Erik Morrison would trade places with Price a batter later, doubling down the left field line to give Kansas an early 5-0 lead.

At the plate, KU starter Andres Esquibel would keep the Red Raiders hitless through the first four innings. Kansas would add four additional runs in the fourth inning, as Ramos would walk the bases loaded and issue another walk and a wild pitch to give the Jayhawks a commanding 7-0 lead. Ryne Price would single to center field to plate two additional Jayhawks, before Brian Cloud would replace Ramos to get the final out of the inning.

Tech would finally get its first run and hit in the fifth inning as Joey Kenworthy singled to center field to plate Logan Brown, who had pitch ran for Monk Kreder earlier in the inning. The Red Raiders would load the bases following a Rueda walk, but Thennis would strikeout to end the inning.

Cloud would keep the Jayhawks scoreless over the final four innings, while the Tech bats would remain quiet. The Red Raiders were one-hit for the first time since the season opener February 23^rd against Louisiana-Lafayette.

Tech will look to salvage the series tomorrow afternoon with Chad Bettis on the mound in the weekend finale, beginning at 1 p.m.

                                                                                                      R     H     E

Texas Tech              000       010       000                               1      1      1

Kansas                      203       400       000                               9      6      0

WP = Andres Esquibel (3-2)

LP = AJ Ramos (1-4)                         

SV = None

Attendance: 779

GAME NOTES

·          Tech has now given up first inning runs in nine of 14 conference games this season.

·          AJ Ramos went 3 2/3 innings, allowing a career-high nine earned runs.

·          Brian Cloud went a career-high four innings in relief, allowing only one hit while striking out four Jayhawks.

·          Willie Rueda was caught stealing for only the second time this season. His three walks were also a new career-high.

·          With the loss, Texas Tech has now lost 17 consecutive road series dating black to 2004 when the Red Raiders defeated Oklahoma State in Stillwater.

·         Tech was one-hit for the first time since the season opener February 23^rd against Louisiana-Lafayette.

--ttu--