Jayhawks can’t get big hit

Texas Tech’s baseball squad gave Kansas University a gift Saturday. The Jayhawks destroyed the contents and lost the receipt.

What seemed a routine Tech victory in the midst of a long season instead was a painful way for Kansas to lose, 8-6, at Hoglund Ballpark.

The Jayhawks had the bases loaded with one out in the ninth inning, though they didn’t exactly earn it. After Brock Simpson walked with one out, Tech errors allowed two straight runners to reach base, and Matt Baty’s bases-loaded walk put a delicious scenario right into KU’s hungry lap: game-tying and -winning runs on base, and the right hitters stepping up to the plate.

Instead of chowing down, Gus Milner and Erik Morrison both struck out, ending a tease of a ninth inning.

“They gave us a chance,” KU coach Ritch Price said. “If somebody could do something special, it’d put us back in the ballgame and tie it up.

“But they closed up pretty nice. They punched out two of our best hitters.”

The Jayhawks (21-13 overall, 5-6 Big 12 Conference) could’ve stolen a game that, quite frankly, they probably didn’t deserve to win. The Red Raiders (23-12, 5-5) pounded out 15 hits – twice as many as Kansas – and Tech pitcher Colt Hynes settled down KU’s bats after the Jayhawks scored three in the fourth inning to go up 5-4.

Sophomore baserunner John Allman slides underneath the tag of Texas Tech infielder Willie Rueda during the third inning. Saturday night's game was played at Hoglund Park.

Hynes, lacking overpowering stuff, struck out only two KU batters. But he was cruising through the late innings anyway until the defense behind him finally hiccuped in the ninth.

After the first error, Dustin Richardson relieved Hynes and promptly threw away a come-back ground ball by Ritchie Price. That set up a dramatic scenario that Richardson, who boasts a fastball in the 90s, took care of after walking in a run.

“You can’t ask for anything more at the end of the game than an opportunity to come back and win like that,” said John Allman, who was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles. “That’s the name of the game. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose.”

KU starter Ricky Fairchild (4-3) allowed 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings, including a three-run home run to Tech’s James Leverton in the fourth.

Junior catcher Dylan Parzyk watches Texas Tech's James Leverton get congratulated by teammates after a homerun during the fourth inning.

“I was feeling fine,” Fairchild said. “I was having some bad luck and made one bad pitch. : That really cost me.”

Now the focus turns to today’s 1 p.m. rubber match at Hoglund, which will feature Kansas ace Kodiak Quick on the mound.

Vindication, momentum and position in the Big 12 standings all are at stake, and KU players are well aware.

“We’ve got Kody going tomorrow,” Fairchild said. “We know that when he pitches, we always have a chance.”