Stay Hot: Wright, Suiter Lead Offense, KU Blasts No. 19 Texas Tech, 11-3

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – Sophomore second baseman Colby Wright and junior left fielder Michael Suiter combined for three hits, three runs and eight RBIs, as the Kansas baseball team won its fifth-straight game by downing No. 19 Texas Tech, 11-3, Friday night at Hoglund Ballpark. 
 
Suiter blasted a three-run shot in the fifth inning that graced the top of the trees in left field, before Wright followed in the sixth inning with a three-run double smoked to the right-center gap to help the Jayhawks (28-20, 10-9 Big 12) to a season-high 11 runs in Big 12 play. The win also snapped a six-game conference-winning streak held by the Red Raiders (36-14, 11-8 Big 12), as they entered the weekend sweeping their last two league opponents.
 
“In that inning, their pitcher was struggling to find the zone, so I knew he was going to be throwing a lot of fastballs,” Suiter said. “I just got a good pitch to hit and thank the Lord that He helped me get it out there. I feel blessed.”
 
Suiter’s jack helped Kansas to its second-of-three three-run innings on the night, as Wright’s bases clearing double in the sixth with two outs was the third of the game.
 
“I am getting in good counts and seeing a lot of pitches,” Wright said. “Luckily, the ball is finding the barrel.”
 
The four RBIs Wright drove in set a new career-mark for the second baseman and helped tack on some run support for the reigning Big 12 Pitcher of the Week and senior right-handed hurler Jordan Piche’ (6-5), who dominated a tough Texas Tech lineup.
 
“I just felt great,” Piche’ said. “It was just one of those nights where everything clicked. We were ahead in the counts and that made the difference in shutting them down and keeping the hits to a minimum. I love Friday nights.”
 
Piche’ carved up a career-high seven batters without surrendering a walk in a complete-game 110-pitch effort. He allowed three runs, one earned, off seven hits for his second-straight win as a starter, a feat he hasn’t done since his junior college days at Indian Hills (April 6 & 11, 2012). In addition, of those 110 pitches, 90 were thrown for strikes.
 
“He has gotten better each and every start,” head coach Ritch Price said. “If you are going to pitch on Friday night in the Big 12, you have to be a great competitor. I wanted somebody who could thrive in the matchup and Jordan is that guy. Anytime you get a starter to go nine innings, it protects your bullpen so now every guy is ready to go Saturday and Sunday.”
 
The Jayhawks took advantage of eight walks and three hit by pitches by the Texas Tech pitching staff, as starter Ryan Moseley (1-2) gave up five of those walks in the loss.
 
Only three players added to KU’s hit total with Wright and junior right fielder Dakota Smith boasting multiple-hit efforts. Wright finished the day 2-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored while Smith tallied three hits, an RBI and a run scored. Suiter was the only other Jayhawk to record a hit, a three-run bomb, and also finished with four RBIs.
 
“The key for us to be successful is the middle of our lineup,” Price said. “Your three-four-five-six hitters have to be productive. Suiter cluthes up and Wright cluthes up and we take advantage of their eight walks and three hit by pitches. It was a good offensive night for the Jayhawks.”
 
The scoring started early for Kansas with a three-run third inning. Senior catcher Ka’iana Eldredge and junior shortstop Justin Protacio drew back-to-back walks before Wright singled up the middle to drive in the first run of the game. Suiter followed with an RBI-ground out while Smith roped one to right field for an RBI of his own to put KU on top, 3-0.
 
TTU answered in the fourth with a two-spot. A two-out throwing error by junior third baseman Aaron Hernandez extended the inning and put a runner on first base for Texas Tech right fielder Adam Kirsch who dropped the hammer for a two-run shot, cutting Kansas’ lead to one, 3-2.
 
KU bounced back with three runs in the fifth and three runs in the sixth thanks to the bats of Suiter and Wright. With runners at first and second and one out, Suiter laid into one and drove it to the top of the trees in left field for the three-run jack, extending the Kansas lead to four, 6-2. Wright did much of the same in the following frame with his two-out bases loaded double for three RBIs and the 9-2 Jayhawk lead.
 
Kansas added two more in the seventh before Texas Tech added one of its own in the ninth to round out the scoring, 11-3, in favor of the Jayhawks.
 
Junior righty Robert Kahana will get the nod for KU, as game two of the series is slated for Saturday, May 3 at 2 p.m. Fans can watch the game live on the Jayhawk Television Network in the state of Kansas and on ESPN3 outside the state.
 
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