The Texas Tech baseball team had a tough time getting to Orlando to play in the Big 12 series against Central Florida. One irritation leads to another.
UCF scored two runs in the ninth inning to win 5-4 in the Big 12 series opener Thursday night.
Tech relief pitcher Josh Saunders (1-1) retired all six batters he faced in the seventh and eighth innings to maintain a 4-3 lead, but ran out of gas in the ninth inning. After Matt Prevesque scored the first run, Jack Ziska hit a double. With two outs and the bases loaded, Sanders hit Andrew Williamson with a pitch, driving home the winning run.
For Texas Tech, Kevin Buzzell and Landon Stripling hit home runs, and Damian Bravo was 5-for-5, all singles.
Tech teams typically travel the day before road games, but weather issues delayed the Red Raiders' arrival in Orlando until Thursday morning. The game start time was pushed back 90 minutes to accommodate adjustments.
Buzzell's home run down the left field line tied the score at 1-1 in the fourth inning, and the Red Raiders scored three runs in the fifth inning. Tracer Lopez led off with a single, Stripling hit a home run to right field, and Cade McGee hit a home-bravo double.
Tech (18-8, 4-6) and UCF (17-6, 5-5) continue their series Friday at 5 p.m. CDT and Sunday at noon.
Here are three points.
Scene setter:Preview, How to Watch Texas Tech Baseball at UCF
Before and after the conference:Big 12 Baseball Strength Rankings | After a tough month, marquee players are on the mend
Ryan Free appears in an unusual role
Due to the disrupted travel schedule, Tech coach Tim Tadlock started Mack Hoyer and Ryan Free, and the Red Raiders pitched over four innings, allowing four hits and two runs.
The senior from Frisco made his first start in 37 career games for the Red Raiders.
Damien Bravo continues to rake
The Red Raiders center fielder finished Thursday leading the Big 12 in batting average. He raised his batting average to .467, an improvement of 30 his percentage points. Bravo continued to lead NCAA Division I in doubles with 16 on the day.
Red Raiders bullpen has mixed results
Jacob Rodgers took over the situation with the bases loaded and no outs in the 5th inning, and got away with one run. In the sixth inning, Derek Bridges came to the plate with two out and two on, retiring Rex Boedicker and minimizing further threats.
Josh Saunders, pitching for the first time since taking a liner to his right foot last week, looked sharp in the second inning, but was not expected to make a save in the third inning.
