Home runs propel Texas Tech past Kansas, 9-3
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LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech launched three home runs, which accounted for nearly half of its runs, as the Red Raiders avoided a series sweep after defeating Kansas, 9-3, on Sunday afternoon at Rocky Johnson Field.
Despite the series finale loss, the Jayhawks (21-18, 3-6 Big 12) won the 2017 series with victories in the first two meetings of the weekend. KU recorded 10 or more hits in both the first and second game of the weekend, but scattered only seven hits on Sunday.
Senior outfielder Lily Behrmann recorded the first hit of the day in the top of the first and advanced to third base on a throwing error to first base. Junior catcher Harli Ridling gave Kansas a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly to right field that allowed Behrmann to score. Behrmann concluded the season series going 2-for-2 at the plate the with a pair walks.
Texas Tech answered in the bottom half of the opening frame with three runs to take the lead, 3-1. A pair of base hits drove in the first two runs and a throwing error allowed the third TTU run to cross home plate.
In the second inning, the Red Raiders added to their advantage with a solo home run to left field. The long ball extended TTU’s lead, 4-1, after two innings. Freshman hurler Mandy Roberts entered the circle in relief of starter Alexis Reid in the second. Following the homer, Roberts shut down Texas Tech’s offense and got out of the inning without further harm.
A sacrifice fly to right field in the third frame increased the Red Raiders’ advantage, 5-1. Texas Tech continued the bottom of the third with a two-out two-run home run to left field, which gave TTU a 7-1 lead as KU looked to get out of the inning. Following the second TTU home run of the game, junior Sarah Miller entered in relief and was able to close out the frame.
Miller threw KU’s first shutout inning of the game in the bottom of the fourth. The righty sat the TTU batter’s down in order, including her first strikeout of the outing. Miller tossed three and one-third innings of relief work and struck out two batters.
Junior outfielder Erin McGinley reached base on Texas Tech’s second error of the game. Behrmann followed with her second hit of the day, a double down the left field line, giving KU two runners in the fifth with no outs. Freshman infielder Becki Monaghan delivered a two-out base hit to the centerfield wall, allowing both KU runners to score. Monaghan went 2-for-4 on the day with two RBIs to lead KU’s offense. The freshman’s two-RBI single cut into Kansas’ deficit, 7-3.
Texas Tech answered in the bottom half of the fifth frame with a solo home run to left field. The Red Raiders’ third long ball of the game gave TTU an 8-3 lead over the Jayhawks. In the sixth, TTU brought its ninth run of the ballgame across home plate on a single down the right field line.
Despite Kansas scoring first for the second game in a row, Texas Tech avoided the series sweep with a 9-3 victory over the Jayhawks. Although KU lost the series finale, Kansas won its first Big 12 series of 2017 on the road.
UP NEXT
The Jayhawks take a break from Big 12 Conference play to host Wichita State in a midweek matchup on Tuesday, April 11. The nonconference game is slated for a 6 p.m. first pitch on the Jayhawk Radio Network.
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