No. 5 Tech Ignites For 15-6 Win In Opener Vs KU

Friday, April 6

Lawrence, KS

1 p.m.

Texas Tech Athletics

25-6, 4-3

Kansas

17-12, 2-5

Texas Tech

Kansas

No. 5 Tech Ignites For 15-6 Win In Opener Vs KU

April 06, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes (PDF)Highlights

The Red Raiders rack up 15 runs on 15 hits to take game one of the three-game set

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The No. 5 Texas Tech baseball team kicked off its weekend in Lawrence with a 15-6 victory over Kansas on Friday afternoon at Hoglund Ballpark.

The Red Raiders (25-6, 4-3) caught fire in the near-freezing temperatures, racking up 15 runs on 15 hits against the Jayhawks (17-12, 2-5). It was the 11^th game with 10 or more runs & 16^th time with more than 10 hits this season for the Red Raiders.

Freshman infielder Gabe Holt notched his fifth three-hit game of the season, coming a triple away from the cycle. It was the first time since Feb. 17 he had been one hit away from accomplishing the feat, also needing a triple in that game as well. Holt finished day with six RBI and four runs scored, the first six RBI-performance since Brian Klein on April 26, 2017, at New Mexico.

Senior designated hitter Zach Rheams joined Holt in posting a three-hit day at the plate. Rheams also had a homer & two singles, tallying two runs and scoring three. It marked back-to-back games he has hit a home run, launching the walk-off dinger on Tuesday against New Mexico State in Midland.

The duo combined to make up two of Tech's six multi-hit batters on Friday. Junior Cameron Warren and sophomores Josh Jung, Brian Klein & Grant Little all recorded two hits in the contest.

Junior right-handed pitcher Davis Martin picked up his first win of the conference slate after tossing 5.0 innings against the Jayhawks. The San Angelo native allowed two runs on three hits, striking out five to improve to 5-2. Martin has held Big 12 opponents to two or fewer runs in all three games he's pitched in 2018.

The Jayhawks struck first on Friday afternoon, plating one run in the opening frame. Cosentino was hit-by-a-pitch with one out, then was moved into scoring position on a groundout. From there, an RBI single to left-center field from Vosik brought home the first run of the day for a 1-0 lead.

Tech answered back in their next trip to the plate, driving in four runs for a 4-1 advantage. Rheams opened the frame with a single to right field, then moved into scoring position after sophomore Clay Koelzer worked a full-count walk with one out. A single from junior Cody Farhat loaded the bases for Holt, who smacked a two-RBI double to left-center field for the 2-1 lead.

Klein followed with a sacrifice fly to the same part of the park, easily scoring Farhat for another run. With Holt standing on second, another hit to left-center from Jung sent Holt around third to extend the score to 4-1.

It was the first time in three games Tech had scored three or more runs in a single inning, doing so for the 24^th time in 2018.

In the third inning, Rheams uncorked a monster-solo home run to the parking lot behind right field, giving Tech a 5-1 lead. It was Rheams' sixth homer of the year & the third time this season he's gone back-to-back.

The Red Raiders scored for the third-straight inning, unleashing a nine-spot in the fourth to push the lead to 14-1. Nine Tech hitters reached base in the frame, as a bases-loaded double from Jung plated two, a single from Rheams added another and a double from Warren scored two more to push the lead to 10-1.

With the bases loaded again & two away after batting around, Holt smashed a grand slam just under our nation's flag in right-center field to run the score up to 14-1. It was Holt's fourth homer of the year, first grand slam of his career and second by a Red Raider this season.

Kansas got a run back in the bottom half of the inning on a bases-loaded walk to Taylor, but Martin induced a double play to escape the jam.

In the seventh inning, Tech scored another on a fielder's choice from Little, driving in Holt, who walked to begin the frame to make it 15-2. KU countered with two in the in the bottom half of the inning on a bases-loaded single & fielder's choice to cut the deficit to 15-4.

The Red Raiders return to action for game two of the series on Saturday, April 7, at 2 p.m. at Hoglund Ballpark.