Texas Tech baseball falls to Cincinnati in 12 innings, losing fifth straight
Don WilliamsCincinnati loaded the bases against Lukas Pirko (0-2) with two walks and a bunt single by former Texas Tech infielder Lauden Brooks. With one out, Natili lifted an opposite-field pop fly that right fielder Damian Bravo, second baseman Tracer Lopez and first baseman Robin Villeneuve couldn't get to. Donovan Ford came in from third.
Pirko allowed only the one run in 3â…“ innings, striking out four.
Cincinnati (18-11, 5-5 in the Big 12) won its sixth game in a row. Texas Tech (8-18, 4-6) lost its fifth in a row.
Because of a forecast for cold weather, Saturday's game has been postponed and the two teams plan to play a doubleheader at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Cincinnati scored twice in the ninth to force extra innings. Cal Sefcik's run-scoring single off Logan Bevis narrowed the gap to 7-6, and Ford's bases-loaded walk from Trendan Parish forced in the tying run.
Bravo's leadoff home run in the sixth inning and Antonelli Savattere's two-run shot two batters later put Tech ahead 6-4.
Cincinnati starter Nathan Taylor allowed only one hit in his first 4 2/3 innings. Tech rallied with Coleman Ryan's RBI single and Kyeler Thompson's two-run double in the fifth and the long balls in the sixth, making it 6-4 and chasing Taylor. The big righthander came in with a 2.70 ERA.
Jack Cebert continued his strong presence as a bulk-innings middle reliever. The senior righthander relieved Mac Heuer with no outs in the third and finished the eighth, allowing one unearned run on four hits. He struck out eight, getting Brooks with two men on to end the eighth and preserve a 6-5 lead.
This story has been updated to add post-game video.
Where to watch Texas Tech baseball vs. Cincinnati
∎ Online streaming: ESPN+
Texas Tech baseball vs. Cincinnati start times
∎ Game 2: 2 p.m. Saturday, postponed, cold
∎ Games 2 and 3: Doubleheader at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Texas Tech baseball vs. Cincinnati live updates
End of 11th inning: Texas Tech 7, Cincinnati 7
Texas Tech stranded a runner at third in the 10th inning, and Robin Villeneuve came up with two on in the 11th and bounced into an inning-ending double play.
End of 9th inning: Texas Tech 7, Cincinnati 7
Cincinnati scored two runs in the ninth to force extra innings. Cal Sefcik's run-scoring single off Logan Bevis narrowed the gap to 7-6, and Donovan Ford's bases-loaded walk from Trendan Parish forced in the tying run.
Tech had gone up 7-5 in the eighth when Antonelli Savattere walked and scored on an error.
End of 7th inning: Texas Tech 6, Cincinnati 5
Cincinnati's Christian Mitchelle hit a run-scoring double in the seventh off Jack Cebert. The run was unearned. It scored former Texas Tech infielder Lauden Brooks, who reached on a throwing error by third baseman Garet Boehm.
The unearned run is the only blemish on Cebert, who's allowed three hits and struck out five in five innings of relief.
End of 6th inning: Texas Tech 6, Cincinnati 4
Antonelli Savattere pulled a two-run homer to right field, giving Texas Tech its first lead of the day against Cincinnati. Savattere's second homer of the season followed a leadoff homer by Damian Bravo and a base hit by Robin Villeneuve. It chased Cincinnati starter Nathan Taylor, who came in with a 2.70 ERA and allowed only one hit in the first 4 2/3 innings.
Bottom of 6th inning: Cincinnati 4, Texas Tech 4
Bravo hit an opposite-field leadoff homer in the sixth inning, bringing Texas Tech back from a four-run deficit. The ball glanced off the glove of leaping right fielder Landyn Vidourek.
End of 5th inning: Cincinnati 4, Texas Tech 3
Texas Tech rallied for three runs in the fifth on an RBI single by Coleman Ryan and a two-run double from Kyeler Thompson. The rally started with two outs and none on. Tracer Lopez singled and Garet Boehm reached on an error to set the table.
End of 3rd inning: Cincinnati 4, Texas Tech 0
Cincinnati scored three runs in the third, chasing Texas Tech starting pitcher Mac Heuer. Kerrington Cross doubled, former Tech infielder Lauden Brooks singled him home and Landyn Vidourek walked. That ended Heuer's day. Jack Natili greeted reliever Jack Cebert with an RBI single, making it 3-0. After a sacrifice, Cal Sefcik reached on an error, a run scoring on Ryan's off-target throw to first.
Heuer faced 12 batters and was charged with four runs on six hits.
End of 2nd inning: Cincinnati 1, Texas Tech 0
Cincinnati got a run in the first. Cross singled back to the mound, took third on Brooks' base hit and scored on Natili's groundout.
T.J. Pompey to miss extended period
Texas Tech third baseman T.J. Pompey is out of the lineup for the sixth time in nine games with an unspecified injury, and appears likely to be down significantly longer.
Tech coach Tim Tadlock said during his pre-game radio show Pompey will be evaluated again in 10 days.
"Right now, he's able to get out there and take ground balls, but not really able to swing a bat yet," Tadlock said.
Pompey's batting .348 with five home runs and 15 runs batted in. He missed the opening Big 12 series March 21-23 against TCU and two non-conference games since.
Texas Tech lineup (batting average, home runs, RBI)
Kyeler Thompson, cf (.267-1-12, 18 stolen bases)
Logan Hughes, lf (.313-9-31)
Damian Bravo, rf (.336-6-25)
Robin Villeneuve, 1b (.375-5-24)
Antonelli Savattere, dh (.286-1-7)
Dylan Maxcey, c (.257-2-8)
Tracer Lopez, 2b (.263-2-12)
Garet Boehm, 3b (.255-2-4)
Coleman Ryan, ss (.297-0-6)
Texas Tech baseball vs. Cincinnati, starting pitchers
∎ Sunday: Texas Tech RHP Tyler Boudreau (1-1, 8.20 ERA) vs. Cincinnati LHP Kellen O'Connor (0-0, 5.16)
∎ Sunday: Texas Tech RHP Zane Petty (0-1, 3.71) vs. Cincinnati starter to be determined
Texas Tech baseball, next five games
Home games in ALL CAPS. An asterisk (*) denotes Big 12 Conference games.
∎ Tuesday: at New Mexico, 3 p.m.
∎ April 11: BAYLOR*, 6:30 p.m.
∎ April 12: BAYLOR*, 2 p.m.
∎ April 13: BAYLOR*, 1 p.m.
∎ April 17: at Arizona State*, 8:30 p.m.