AP PhotoOKLAHOMA CITY ? A three-run first inning pushed Texas Tech past Kansas University, 5-1, eliminating the Jayhawks from the Big 12 Conference softball tournament Thursday.
KU finished its season with a record of 26-22.
Eighth-seeded Texas Tech (22-39) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning with just one hit — a two-run triple by Kristi Robles — and never looked back.
Robles later came around to score on a bunt by Andrea Joachims.
The Red Raiders tacked on two more runs in the third, chasing KU starter Kara Pierce (16-13). After walking Kelly Rhyne and giving up a single up the middle to Amanda Douglas with two outs, Pierce could not get out of the inning as Joachims doubled to the fence in right field for a 5-0 lead.
KU senior Kirsten Milhoan relieved Pierce after the double and pitched the final 31/3 innings allowing three hits, no runs and a walk while striking out three in her final appearance as a Jayhawk.
Pierce was responsible for all five runs on three hits, three walks and two strikeouts.
Kansas managed just three singles off Tech starter Amie Stines (9-18) through the first six innings and did not score until the seventh.
Mel Wallach had a sharp single to center open the final frame, and Nettie Fierros followed with a single to right to put two runners.
Wallach came around to score on the next play, as Texas Tech second baseman Shayne Gipson threw the ball into the KU dugout attempting to complete a double play on a grounder to shortstop by Heather Stanley.
Stines allowed five hits, walking one batter and yielding one run.
Fierros and Wallach both went 2-for-3 for KU, with Wallach scoring the lone run. Sandy Smith had the other base hit for the Jayhawks.
With the loss, Kansas fell to 8-13 all-time at the Big 12 tournament.
