Kansas Rallies to Steal 8-5 Win in Series Opener

Friday, April 7

Lubbock, TX

6:00 PM

Texas Tech Athletics

16-19, 0

Kansas

20-17, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Kansas	0	0	1	0	0	6	1	8	11	1
Texas Tech	2	0	0	0	0	1	2	5	11	0

Kansas Rallies to Steal 8-5 Win in Series Opener

April 07, 2017 | Softball

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Jayhawks use six-run sixth inning powered by a grand slam to give Tech its fourth conference loss.

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech softball held a 2-1 lead through five innings, but a six-run sixth propelled Kansas to the 8-5 win in the series opener at Rocky Johnson Field Friday evening.

While both sides finished with 11 hits in the contest, a grand slam from Jayhawk pinch-hitter Mikayla Warren proved to be the difference as it pushed Kansas ahead 7-2 in the sixth.

"Anytime you give a grand slam up it is tough to recover from," head coach Adrian Gregory said. "I guarantee you Kassidy (Scott) wanted that pitch back. I think we had a lot of good swings tonight, and we attacked when we got good counts. We never ever quit. We took some blows, but we came back from it and gave ourselves a chance to win."

Freshman Kassidy Scott gave the Red Raiders a good start once again, holding the Jayhawks to just one run through the first five innings. She posted a career-high with five strikeouts while giving up eight runs on 11 hits and two walks.

"We have been using Kassidy a lot," Gregory said of her freshman pitcher, who has started six of seven Big 12 games so far this season. "I think she is going to have a great career here. I wouldn't say this was her best game, but she pitched great and gave us a chance to win the ball game."

The Red Raiders got the bats started early with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Singles from senior Kierra Miles and sophomore Kiani Ramsey led off the inning and a double over the head of the center fielder from sophomore Jessica Hartwell brought them around to score. Hartwell finished 2-4 with three RBI on the day.

Following the six-run inning for the Jayhawks, Tech continued to battle in the sixth as senior Devon Thomey blasted a leadoff triple into left center field. Freshman Raina O'Neal, who went 2-4 on the day, was quick to bring her in, banging an infield single off the pitcher.

The fight continued into the seventh with Tech scoring a pair of runs and getting the tying run on deck before Kansas was able to close out the win.

Along with multi-hit performances from Hartwell and O'Neal, Ramsey went 3-3 with two runs and a walk, while Miles finished 2-4 with a pair of runs.

The loss drops Tech to 16-19 overall, 3-4 in Big 12 play, while Kansas improves to 20-17, 2-5 in the Big 12. The two squads resume the series with game two Saturday at 4 p.m. The game is designated as the annual Strikeout Cancer game, in which all cancer survivors who RSVP get in free and all fans wearing pink receive discounted admission.

POST-GAME NOTES

Texas Tech now trails in the all-time series with Kansas 20-34.
Texas Tech falls to 1-2 in Big 12 series openers this season.
Texas Tech drops to 8-14 all-time in Big 12 series home openers and 1-2 under head coach Adrian Gregory.
The Red Raiders move to 13-4 on the year when it leads after five innings.
Tech and Kansas both finished with eleven hits in the contest.
Tech's defense finished without an error for the second time in Big 12 play and eighth time in 2017.
Freshman pitcher Kassidy Scott has started six of seven Big 12 games for the Red Raiders.
Senior Ashley Fultz got the nod at third base for the first time in 10 games.
Senior Devon Thomey recorded her second triple of the season Friday night.
Sophomore Jessica Hartwell recorded her 11^th double of the season Friday, which moves her into a tie for third in the Big 12.
Senior Brittany Warnecke failed to reach base safely for the first time in eight games.