LUBBOCK, Texas –Texas Tech softball (33-9, 6-7 Big 12) out-hit the Jayhawks 13-9 but struggled to string runs together as the Red Raiders dropped a 6-4 decision to Kansas, Thursday at Rocky Johnson Field.

Heaven Burton led the Red Raiders with three hits while Karli Hamilton, Peyton Blythe and Taylor Satchell all tallied two.

In her 21st start of the season, junior transfer Missy Zoch took the loss and she dropped to 14-6 on the season after throwing 1.2 innings. Sophomore Erin Edmoundson entered in the relief in the top of the second and finished the game with two strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work.

Even though Breanna Russell picked up the first hit of the game in the bottom of the first, Kansas broke open the scoring and put up four runs on five hits off Zoch in the top of the second. Edmoundson relived the junior for the final out and served as Tech’s workhorse for the remainder of the game.

Tech tallied a pair of hits over the next three innings, but the Jayhawks added onto their lead, 6-0, when Madison Sykes lifted a two-run home run off Edmoundson in the top of the fifth.

However, three consecutive singles from Satchell, Hamilton and Burton loaded the bases for the Red Raiders in the bottom of the inning and a two-out walk to Trenity Edwards, issued by Kansas starter Brynn Minor, brought in a Tech run to make it a 6-1 game.

Edmoundson and the Red Raiders held Kansas scoreless in the top of the sixth and back-to-back singles from Blythe and Zoe Jones put immediate pressure on the Jayhawk defense. After Tech hit into a double play, Satchell drove in Tech’s second run of the game on an RBI single up the middle and a double from Hamilton put a pair of runners in scoring position with two outs.

Battling against Kansas reliever Hannah Todd, Burton scorched a single to third and the shot ricocheted off the glove of Sykes and rolled into center field. One Tech run came around to score and an error in center allowed Hamilton to slide into home to cut the Jayhawks lead down to two.

The defense stood as a brick wall once again in the top of the seventh and Edmoundson used a three up, three down frame to send Tech back into the dugout. Edwards kept the momentum rolling with a rocket to short and Blythe put runners in scoring position when she blasted a one-out double to the wall. 

However, the Red Raider rally fell short as a strikeout and ground out to second base ended Tech’s comeback and Kansas claimed the series opener, 6-4.

The Red Raiders look to even the series tomorrow at 6 p.m. Live stats, as well as a live stream, will be available for the game. For all the latest information on the Texas Tech softball team, visit TexasTech.com or follow @TexasTechSB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

(Courtesy: Texas Tech Sports Communications Department)