Jayhawks Sweep Red Raiders

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas scored all five of its runs on home runs including two, two-run blasts in the sixth that broke open a 1-1 game and handed the Jayhawks a series sweep over Texas Tech with a 5-2 win on Sunday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark.

The Red Raiders would get their leadoff hitter on base in each of the first four innings but timely hitting would once again falter as Tech would plate no runners in the opening frames.

Following two straight scoreless innings on the mound for Tech starter Chad Bettis, Kansas would get on the board first off a Jimmy Waters solo home run to right-center field to leadoff the third inning.

Bettis would settle down quickly, however, keeping the Jayhawks scoreless over the next three innings. Bettis finished the game going 4/13 innings allowing three runs on four hits.

After walks to both Willie Rueda and Roger Kieschnick, Doug Thennis would tie the game with an RBI single through the left side to score Rueda. The Red Raiders would leave two runners on-base, however, as James Leverton flew out to right field to end the inning.

Kansas would respond quickly as Buck Afenir would hammer a two-run home run to center field to give the Jayhawks the lead again. After closer Zach Stewart replaced Bettis, Preston Land would hit his second home run of the series, a two-run shot just inside the left field foul pole.

Tech would get runners on first and second base again in the seventh inning, but Chris Hall would ground out to third base to end the inning. The Jayhawks would also get two runners on in the bottom half of the inning, but Stewart would induce a groundball and fly out to get out of the jam.

Thennis would provide another RBI in the eighth inning, scoring Kieschnick on a double to left field. The rally attempt would be short-lived as Leverton would fly out and Monk Kreder would ground to shortstop to end the inning.

Bettis earned the loss, dropping the true freshman to 3-3 on the season. Paul Smyth earned the win in relief, moving him to 2-3 this year.

The Red Raiders return to the diamond in Las Vegas Tuesday for a two-game series with UNLV. First pitch is scheduled for 9 p.m. central time.

                                                                                                      R     H     E

Texas Tech              000       001       010                               2      8      0

Kansas                      001       004       00X                               5      7      0

WP = Paul Smyth (2-3)

LP = Chad Bettis (3-3)

SV = None

Attendance: 763

(Courtesy: Texas Tech)