Tech Tops Cats to Take Series

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Texas Tech scored multiple runs in three different innings, while Kansas State could never collect a clutch hit in the early stages of the game as the Red Raiders downed the 10th-ranked Wildcats, 12-6, Saturday afternoon at Tointon Family Stadium.

Texas Tech, which took the series with the win, improved to 23-27 overall and 11-12 in Big 12 play. K-State dropped two in a row for the first time since mid-April as it fell to 37-13-1 overall and 12-9-1 in conference action.

The Wildcats surrendered their second-most runs this season as Texas Tech pounded out 12 hits against seven different Wildcat pitchers. The Red Raiders were also able to work eight walks against a Kansas State team that had given up the sixth-fewest walks in the nation entering play this week.

For the second-straight game, the Wildcats couldn’t collect a clutch hit when they needed the most as K-State left six runners on base in the first four innings, including five in scoring position.

Texas Tech received another great outing from its starting pitcher as AJ Ramos (5-4) allowed two runs on six hits in his 6.1 inning of work. The right-hander did allow five walks, but made up for it with his seven strikeouts, including two consecutive strikeouts to end both the second and third innings.

Kansas State senior Lance Hoge (5-3) allowed five runs on six hits in 5.2 innings of work to take the loss. The left-hander did tally five strikeouts, tying his season high for a second time this season.

The top four hitters in Texas Tech combined to total 11 of the 12 Tech RBI, including Joey Kenworthy, who went going 3-for-3 with three RBI.

Jordan Cruz paced the Wildcats with his 2-for-3 effort, while the right fielder drove in two runs.

Neither starting pitcher allowed a hit in the first two innings, but Texas Tech got to Hoge in the third frame. Garrett Totten walked with one out and moved to second on a wild pitch. Following a strikeout, Willie Rueda blooped a 2-2 pitch into center field to plate the first run.

The Red Raiders weren’t done in the inning as Kenworthy singled before Chris Richburg hit a ball off the top of the wall in right field for a two-RBI triple. Taylor Ashby followed with a RBI single to push the Texas Tech lead to four.

Kansas State got one of those runs back in the bottom half when Adam Muenster and Carter Jurica hit back-to-back infield singles before Nick Martini hit a fielder’s choice, which put runners on first and third. Justin Bloxom was next and ripped a single up the middle to plate the run.

The missed a great opportunity to get back in the game in the fourth inning when the Cats had runners on second and third with no outs with Dane Yelovich at the plate. On a 0-2 pitch, Yelovich popped out into shallow left field. Cruz tagged up and tried to score, but Rueda threw him out at the plate for a double play. Muenster followed by lining out to second to end the frame.

Following a scoreless fifth, the Red Raiders plated three in the sixth to put the game away. Justin Berry hit a one-out double before Michael Reed struck out, which would be Hoge’s last batter. James Allen entered the game and walked three-straight hitters to give Tech one run.

Allen was then quickly pulled in favor of Thomas Rooke, but the left-hander could not fair any better as he surrendered a two-RBI single to Kenworthy to make the score 7-1.

Kansas State scored a run in the seventh as Yelovich hit an infield single and then moved first to third on a walk and wild pitch. He then scored on a Jurica RBI groundout.

Tech added another five in the eight with two sacrifice flies, two RBI singles and a two-out RBI double.

The Wildcats were able to score four late runs in the home half of the inning on just one hit as two walks and an error on a fielder’s choice preceded a two-run double by Cruz. Daniel Dellasega then hit a pinch-hit sacrifice fly before Cruz scored on a Yelovich groundout.