Ten years ago, the University of Kansas defeated the Texas Tech University baseball team in three consecutive games in Lawrence, Kansas. A month later, the Red Raiders made their first appearance in the College World Series and Tim Tadlock was named National Coach of the Year.
Now the Red Raiders will try to turn the tide in the same way.
John Nett homered, Kody Shojinaga hit a three-run double and Kansas defeated Texas Tech 7-3 in Lawrence on Sunday, giving the Jayhawks their first three-game winning streak over the Red Raiders since May 2014. did.
Kansas (25-15, 12-9 Big 12) won for the 10th time in 11 games. Tech (29-17, 12-12) has lost four in a row after winning three games last weekend against then-Big 12 co-leader West Virginia.
Tech took a 2-0 lead in the third inning on Gavin Kash’s scoring single and Damian Bravo’s triple.
Tech will host UT against Rio Grande Valley (21-18) on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., and Big 12 No. 1 Oklahoma (26-14, 15-4) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Key points from the series opener:Record-breaking Texas Tech baseball defense can’t maintain lead against Kansas
Key points from the second game:Texas Tech hitters silent after second loss to Kansas in Big 12 series
Here are three takeaways:
Kansas State made Texas Tech pay for a walk.
With his team trailing 2-0, Nett hit his fifth home run of the season in the third inning, and Tech’s pitching staff collapsed in the fourth. Starting pitcher Mack Hoyer (4 wins, 4 losses) issued five walks in the fourth inning, all of which scored runs.
Kansas took the lead with a bases-loaded walk to Nett and Jake English. Jacob Rodgers replaced Hoyer and allowed a bases-loaded double by Ei Shoji to make the score 6-2.
Kansas’ pitching staff dominates the weekend
Why is Kansas doing well under second-year coach Dan Fitzgerald? The Jayhawks are running freshman Reece Dutton (7-2, 3.14), who transferred from the University of Southern California Upstate. ‘s Dominique Voegele (6-2, 2.90) and a rotation of juniors until he went down a month ago, building one of the best weekend rotations in the Big 12. College transfer Patrick Steitz (2-2, 2.16)
Dutton and Voegele got off to a quality start, going 4-3 and 11-2 on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, Tech chased Jabriel Easley in the third inning, but Ethan Lanthier (3-0) was great, giving the Jayhawks relief over 4 2/3 innings with two hits and no runs.
Red Raiders get good news on Dylan Maxey
The Tech sophomore catcher and designated hitter returned to the team and was in the dugout Sunday, a day after being hit by a pitch to the head. Tech Athletics released a statement early Sunday morning saying Maxcy was evaluated and released from a hospital in Lawrence, Kansas. The statement said Maxey was “doing well.”
