Tony Thompson and former Jayhawk great Travis Metcalf may soon have more in common then playing the same position.

Thompson, sophomore third baseman, clubbed two home runs Sunday while No. 24 Kansas rebounded strong and avoided a sweep from Texas Tech, winning 15-6.

Thompson now has 12 home runs on the season, only six shy of tying former fellow third baseman Metcalf’s single-season home run record of 18, which was set in Metcalf’s senior year in 2004.

His three home runs in the three game series unfortunately were not enough as the Jayhawks will more than likely loose their national ranking after failing to win the series against the Red Raiders.

“Our whole season rode on today’s ballgame,” Price said. “If we would of got swept on the road by Texas Tech it would of ruined all the positive things we had accomplished in the first part of the Big 12 season.”

It wasn’t a good weekend for pitching to say the least. Kansas’ top two starters, junior Shaeffer Hall and sophomore T.J. Walz, were knocked around on Friday and Saturday as Tech scored 22 runs in those two games.

While the Red Raiders still scored a decent amount with six on Sunday, freshman starter Lee Ridenhour wasn’t accountable for the damage as he pitched six innings and only allowed one run. He did have to constantly work through tough situations though, as he gave up eight hits and walked three.

Still, it was enough for Ridenhour’s first victory since Wichita State back on March 11th.

“He grinded that win out today,” Price said. “He found a way to get six innings for us.”

The first two games of the series saw the Jayhawk’s lineup struggle to score runs early before surging late. However, on Sunday Kansas silenced any possible chances for a sweep by Tech. They exploded for 10 runs through the first four innings, including a seven-run first inning.

“It was pretty nice to get on top like that, it’s always nice to get a lead early and get our pitchers some runs to work with,” Thompson said.

Fifteen runs on 15 hits was as efficient as the Jayhawks have been all season. Kansas has left runners on base in the past and it has been a problem all season.

And it wasn’t just Thompson and the rest of the middle part of the order that did the damage. Every Jayhawk that played had a hit and six Jayhawks had at least one RBI with junior shortstop David Narodowski leading the way with four.

“The tail end of our lineup contributed all three days,” Price said. “That’s why we scored as many runs as we did.”

But Thompson’s three home runs were the story for the Jayhawk offense this weekend, especially on Sunday. Price even said it would be a remarkable effort to reach Metcalf’s record.

“If he continues to swing the bat the way he’s going about his business I think there’s no doubt about it he’ll break that record before the season ends,” Price said.

But with Thompson now the closest any Jayhawk has ever been to reaching Metcalf’s record in the last five years, does the Reno, Nev., native feel lucky enough to reach the record in the final 17 games?

“It would take a pretty big effort and it would be a great record to have, but as long as we’re winning that’s all I care about,” Thompson said.

— — Edited by Liz Schubauer