Kansas rolls to seventh consecutive win over Shockers

The team that doesn’t hit home runs homered twice. The team that doesn’t win on the road still doesn’t win on the road.

Kansas defeated Wichita State 9-3 on Tuesday at Hoglund Ballpark to defeat the Shockers for the seventh straight time, helped by an unexpected power surge. The good feelings generated by WSU’s weekend series win over Missouri State didn’t travel and the Shockers dropped to 2-13 on the road, 1-11 against non-conference opponents.

“Something good needs to happen,” WSU shortstop Trey Vickers said. “We’ve been struggling all year on the road; once we see it happen, it will start happening more often.”

Coach Todd Butler is ready for that to happen, ready for a day when he can count on a pitching staff to keep his Shockers (13-24) consistently in games and ready for his hitters to show some pop with runners on base. While the road record is disturbing, the home record is only marginally better.

“It’s not like we’ve figured out either one of them,” Butler said. “We’ve won two games in a row; to win the conference tournament might take five wins. Until we learn to put some wins, more than two, (together) … winning two games in a row is definitely not going to get it done.”

The Jayhawks (15-20) had eight home runs entering the game. Michael Tinsley hit his first of the season in the third inning. No. 8 hitter TJ Martin hit his second in the sixth. Both drove in two runs and served to highlight the difference between KU’s 14 hits, which included five for extra bases, and WSU’s 12 singles. WSU, which put three freshmen in the top five spots in the batting order, left the bases loaded in the third. In the fifth, it totaled four hits and a walk, scoring two runs on a two-out single.

“That’s when we need a ball in the gap or a home run,” Butler said.

The Jayhawks spent Sunday night at Dallas’ Love Field after storms caused them to miss their connecting flight to Kansas City. They returned to campus on Monday and coach Ritch Price canceled practice.

“I’ll tip my hat to my players,” Price said. “I don’t know if you’ve ever seen 27 guys have more fun in the airport when you’re there all night. They found a way to enjoy themselves. I had to give them the day off. They walked in here ready to play.

Tinsley, KU’s leading hitter, went 2 for 4 and extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

“He’s dialed in,” Price said. “He railed a couple balls into the wind earlier this year and got caught, so that gets him his first one.”

WSU starter Connor Lungwitz gave up three runs in two innings and handed things over to a succession of largely ineffective relievers. The Shockers totaled 12 singles and stranded 11 runners, seven in scoring position.

“You’ve got to win ball games and you’ve got to string them together and that’s something we’re having a tough time with,” freshman first baseman Greyson Jenista said.

WSU loaded the bases in the third with Vickers starting his four-hit night with a leadoff single. Mikel Mucha followed with a single. Luke Ritter, after twice failing to bunt, moved the runners into scoring position with a groundball to pitcher Jackson Goddard. Goddard struck out Jenista on three pitches before walking Gunnar Troutwine to load the bases. A weak groundball off the bat of Alex Bohm ended the inning.

Vickers singled in a run in the fourth.

In the fifth, Ryan Tinkham singled in two runs to cut KU’s lead to 5-3. The inning started with even more promise on Jenista’s one-out single and a walk. Bohm laced a hit into right field and Jenista. waved on by third-base coach Mike Sirianni, was thrown out at home, trying to score from second, for the second out.

“It was an aggressive move and they threw him out,” Butler said. “We have to score. It’s 9-3.”

The Jayhawks scored three runs with two outs off Lungwitz in the second. A double down the first base line by Joven Afenir scored Colby Wright. Martin doubled past third base to score Afenir and No. 9 hitter Owen Taylor singled in Martin for a 3-0 lead. Vickers threw Taylor out at home, ending the inning, when he tried to score from first on Joe Moroney’s single to center.

Tinsley’s home run, a smash to right field, gave Kansas a 5-0 lead in the third. With one out, WSU reliever Reagan Biechler walked Matt McLaughlin. Tinsley hammered a second-pitch fastball, almost hitting the scoreboard in right field. Martin homered in the sixth, driving in Afenir after his second double, to put Kansas up 7-3.

This story was originally published April 19, 2016 at 10:31 PM with the headline "Kansas rolls to seventh consecutive win over Shockers."