Tech drops series opener to UC Irvine

Friday, February 21

Lubbock, Texas

2 p.m.

Texas Tech Athletics

0-4

UC Irvine

3-2

UC Irvine

Texas Tech

February 21, 2025 | Baseball

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The Red Raiders got home runs from TJ Pompey and Kyeler Thompson in the setback

By: Andrew Stern

LUBBOCK, Texas – Despite a 3-for-4 day and a two-run home run from TJ Pompey, Texas Tech Baseball fell 6-4 to UC Irvine Friday afternoon at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.

In the setback, Texas Tech (0-4) got 5.1 strong innings from relievers Tyler Boudreau, Zane Petty and Logan Bevis, but were unable to overcome an 0-for-11 performance with runners in scoring position and a 1-for-14 performance with runners on base.

After UC Irvine (3-2) struck first in the top of the first on a two-out RBI single from James Castagnola, the Red Raiders immediately answered in their half of the first when Kyeler

Thompson closed an eight-pitch battle UC Irvine starter Danny Suarez with a leadoff blast to left.

The homer was Thompson's first career home run as a Red Raider.

After a 1-2-3 inning from starter Mac Heuer, the Red Raiders took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second when Pompey scored on an RBI groundout by Thompson.

Armed with a 2-1 lead, Heuer sandwiched a line out and strike out between a one-out walk, but the Anteaters used a two-out triple from Jacob McCombs and another RBI single from Castagnola to jump back in front 3-2.

The UCI lead didn't last long, as Tracer Lopez singled with one out to set the stage for Pompey, who ripped a 2-0 fastball 411-feet for his third home run of the young season to give Tech a 4-3 lead.

Returning to the mound for the fourth, Heuer again retired two of the first three batters he faced in the frame, before back-to-back RBI hits gave the Anteaters a 5-4 lead.

After a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth by UCIs Riley Kelly, the Anteaters scored the game's final run in the top of the fifth when McCombs homered to right off Boudreau. Kelly pitched 3.1 scoreless allowing just one hit and one walk to earn his first victory of the season.

Down 6-4 in the bottom of the seventh, the Red Raiders finally chased Kelly from the game after a lead-off single from Damian Bravo and a walk to Robin Villeneuve placed the tying runs on base with nobody out.

With the game in the balance, Irvine turned to its most reliable reliever, lefty Ricky Ojeda, who after a fielder's choice and a wild pitch faced runners on second and third and one out for catcher Dylan Maxcey.

Looking to tie the game, Maxcey took the first three pitches outside of the zone, before ripping a 95 MPH rocket on a 3-1 count that Zach Fjelstad trapped and turned into the innings second out. On the play neither Bravo at third or designated hitter Logan Hughes at second were able to advance.

Again facing a second and third opportunity, Ojeda finally extinguished the threat for good using a strikeout to send the game to the eighth with his side on top 8-4.

In the top of the eighth, UC Irvine used a walk, a single and a sac-bunt to place a pair in scoring position with one out.

Turning to sophomore Logan Bevis, the Red Raiders were able to cut down a run on a ground ball for the innings second out before a popup to second ended the frame.

Needing two to tie and three to take the lead, the Red Raiders got a leadoff double from Pompey, but Ojeda and the Anteaters used a flyout, a strikeout and a grounder to end the Red Raiders chance in the eighth.

The chance for Tech in the eighth proved to be its last, as Ojeda retired the heart of the Red Raider order 1-2-3 in the ninth to seal the 6-4 win for the visitors.

UP NEXT:
The Red Raiders will look to even the weekend series with UC Irvine at one game all on Saturday afternoon. First pitch from Rip Griffin Park is set for 2 p.m.