Texas Tech split a doubleheader at Cincinnati, but a 6-5 win and Arizona’s loss sent the Red Raiders into the Big 12 Tournament.
Texas Tech baseball is heading to the Big 12 Tournament, and the Red Raiders earned their way in with a dramatic Saturday split at No. 25 Cincinnati.
The Red Raiders beat Cincinnati 6-5 in the opener of a day-night doubleheader, giving head coach Tim Tadlock his 500th career victory at Texas Tech.
Combined with Arizona’s run-rule loss to No. 23 Oklahoma State, the win locked Texas Tech into the 12th and final spot in next week’s Big 12 Tournament in Surprise, Arizona.
It wasn’t a smooth road, but at this point in the season, style points don’t matter much. Texas Tech needed a win, got one against a ranked opponent and kept its postseason alive.
The milestone was a big one for Tadlock, who became just the second coach in program history to reach 500 wins, joining Larry Hays. Tadlock reached the mark in 802 games at his alma mater.
Texas Tech fell behind 3-0 in Game 1 before Caden Ferraro and Robin Villeneuve changed the energy with home runs in a three-batter span.
Ferraro homered in both games of the doubleheader, while Villeneuve’s blast was his 10th of the season and first since March 17.
Starter Donovan Becerra gave the Red Raiders exactly what they needed, throwing five innings of three-run, three-hit baseball for his first career win.
He struck out four and walked two, giving Texas Tech a chance to climb back into the game.
The biggest swing came in the fifth, when Connor Shouse doubled with two outs to spark a three-run rally. Freshman Linkin Garcia followed with a full-count, two-run double that put Texas Tech ahead 4-3.
The Red Raiders added another run and then leaned on the bullpen to survive.
Cincinnati pushed back late, cutting the lead to 6-5, but Shouse delivered on the mound, finishing off his third save in the last six games with a ninth-inning double play.
The nightcap nearly brought another Texas Tech comeback. The Red Raiders trailed 7-2 early before fighting back in an 8-7 loss.
Logan Hughes opened the ninth with his 36th career home run, tying Eric Gutierrez for ninth in program history. It was also Hughes’ 20th career Big 12 homer, making him just the second Red Raider to reach that mark.
Texas Tech will open the Big 12 Tournament on Tuesday night as the No. 12 seed against the No. 9 seed, with Baylor, BYU or Utah still possible depending on the final standings.
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