Bravo’s blast powers Tech to first walk-off win in 2025

Saturday, May 10

Lubbock, Texas

2 p.m.

Texas Tech Athletics

18-29, 0

UCF

26-24, 0

UCF

Texas Tech

Bravo’s blast powers Tech to first walk-off win in 2025

May 10, 2025 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The homer was the first walk-off home run since May 19, 2023 vs. Kansas

By: Andrew Stern

LUBBOCK, Texas – Junior Damian Bravo launched his 10th home run of the season, a walk-off 11th-inning blast to power Texas Tech to a 3-2 extra-innings victory over UCF on Saturday afternoon at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.

On the first warm and sunny gameday for Texas Tech (18-29, 12-14 Big 12) in nearly two weeks, the Red Raiders used the Bravo home run to record the first walk-off victory since a 10-9 win over Stanford back on Apr. 1, 2024.

The walk-off home run, was the first for the Red Raiders since May 19, 2023 when Gavin Kash launched a walk-off homer against Kansas.

Not to be lost in the heroics of the walk-off win was another strong outing from senior Jack Cebert, who tossed 5.1 one-run innings for his team-leading seventh victory (all in relief) of the season.

The outing was his fourth outing of four-plus innings with one run or fewer allowed and marked the third-consecutive appearance with a victory for the USF transfer.

Cebert with the win ran his overall record to 7-2 and is now a perfect 7-0 in Big 12 play.

After UCF (26-24, 7-19 Big 12) struck first for the second-straight night on an Andrew Williamson home run, the Red Raiders scratched across singular runs in the second and third innings.

The run in the second was also scored by Bravo and came after the outfielder doubled to lead off the inning. The Haltom City native ultimately came around to score on an RBI single from Robin Villeneuve.

After a two punchouts in a 1-2-3 inning from starter Tyler Boudreau, the Red Raiders ultimately hopped in front, 2-1, on a sac-fly from outfielder Kyeler Thompson that scored catcher Davis Rivers.

Armed with the lead for the first time, Boudreau continued to cruise, as the righty allowed just a one-out single to Williamson in a scoreless fourth and fifth inning, sending the game to the bottom of the fifth with Tech on top 2-1.

Facing UCF starter Russell Sandefer for the third time in the fifth, Tech found a bit more success against the righty, as the Red Raiders used two walks sandwiched between a single to load the bases with two outs for outfielder Logan Hughes.

Sensing a key moment in the game, UCF made a pitching change, summoning righty Kevin Schoneboom from the bullpen. Schoneboom immediately extinguished the Tech threat striking Hughes out on three pitches.

Despite the fifth inning punchout, Hughes had another good day at the plate, as the outfielder singled and walked to extend his on-base streak to 33-straight games.

In the sixth, Boudreau used a strike out and a flyout to left before losing Edian Espinal to a five-pitch walk.

With the tying run on base, Tech went to the bullpen, bringing on Jack Cebert to face Williamson. Cebert retired the outfielder on just one pitch on a flyout to the warning track in center.

After a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth for Schoneboom and UCF, the Knights used a single and an error on a would-be double play ball to put the tying run in scoring position and the go-ahead run on first with no outs.

Looking to keep his side on top, the sinker-baller Cebert, coaxed a grounder to first that Tech was able to erase the lead-runner at third base and a 6-4-3 double play to send the game to the bottom of the seventh.

In the seventh, Tech used a lead-off single from Rivers, a sac-bunt turned hit from Coleman Ryan and a single up the middle from lead-off hitter Tracer Lopez to load the bases with no outs for Thompson.

On a 2-2 count and the infield drawn in, Thompson roped a 104 MPH liner toward second base that Espinal was able to snare for the innings first out.

Looking for the Knight's fourth two-ball of the afternoon, Hughes ripped a ball up the middle that UCF shortstop Antonio Jimenez was able to field, starting a 6-6-4 double play that ended the Tech threat without a run coming across.

In the top of the eighth, UCF used a lead-off single and a walk to place two on and nobody out. After a sac-bunt, the Knights ultimately tied the game at 2-all when Espinal plated catcher Dylan King from third.

With the go-ahead run in scoring position with two outs, Cebert coaxed a groundball to second to keep the game tied.

The game remained 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth, the ninth and the 10th innings as Cebert and UCF righty Alex Galvan kept firing zeros.

After the Knights placed the go-ahead run on base with a lead-off single and in scoring position with one out, Cebert used a pair of grounders to send the game to the 11th where Bravo won the game on the third pitch he saw from Galvan.

The walk-off bomb traveled 380 feet and left the bat at 102 MPH.

UP NEXT:
The Red Raiders look to close out the series victory on Sunday afternoon when Zane Petty will take the ball. First pitch from Rip Griffin Park is set for 1 p.m.