Tech turns the lights out on No. 24 UTSA, 10-5

Wednesday, March 11

6:30 p.m.

Texas Tech Athletics

11-5

No. 24 UTSA

14-3

UTSA

Texas Tech

Tech turns the lights out on No. 24 UTSA, 10-5

March 12, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF) Highlights Post Game Press Conference

Down 4-1, the Red Raiders used a seven-run sixth and two more runs in

By: Andrew Stern

LUBBOCK, Texas – Down 4-1, Texas Tech Baseball erupted for seven sixth-inning runs to down No. 24 UTSA, 10-5, Wednesday night at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.

After the bats were held to just six hits and one run (a Connor Shouse second inning RBI single) through five trips to the plate, Texas Tech (11-5) used nine total runs in the sixth and seventh to win for the 11th time overall and for the 10th time at home this season.

Tech used the longball to spark the comeback as three two-run home runs in the sixth proved to be the difference.

Down 4-1 heading to the frame, the sixth inning got off to a strong start when Tracer Lopez went the other way for a lead-off triple down the left field line. The triple was the Red Raiders
first extra-base hit of the night and marked the first time Tech had a runner in scoring position with no outs on the night.

Ahead in the count (2-1), Shouse delivered his second and third RBIs of the night, when he launched an opposite field two-run home run through the wind and over the wall in right.

The two-run blast, cut the UTSA (14-3) lead to 4-3.

The next Red Raider batter, Logan Hughes, nearly recorded the third-straight extra-base hit of the inning, but his rope down the first base line clipped the first base bag and bounced on a
hop to first baseman Caden Miller who with a dive smothered the ball.

Miller fed a streaking James Hubbard, who was unable to beat Hughes to the first base bag, as the outfielder was called safe.

Following the longest recorded review in Rip Griffin Park history (six minutes and 24 seconds), the call stood, and Hughes reached first base safely.

Tech's next batter, Freshman Linkin Garcia, kept the merry-go-round in motion when eh looped a 1-2 pitch from Hubbard into the right field corner for a double that placed the go-ahead run at second and the tying run at third for DH Caden Ferraro.

The Big 12's Newcomer of the Week delivered once again for the Red Raiders as he chopped a slow roller to second base for a productive out that scored Hughes from third and advanced Garcia to third.

With the go-ahead run at third and just one out, the Red Raiders once again found the two-run homer when a 420-foot laser from first baseman Robin Villeneuve clanged off the scoreboard for what turned out to be the game-winning hit.

Villeneuve's line drive was his team-leading sixth home run of the season and gave Tech a 6-4 lead.

After a five-pitch walk to Tech outfielder/pitcher Jesse Rusinek prompted a pitching change from the Roadrunners, Tech catcher, AJ Goytia, greeted Lubbock native Jake Qualia with a 430-foot ball that hit, mere feet from Villeneuve's blast two batters prior halfway up the videoboard screen.

The homer, the first of Goytia's college career, travelled 430 feet and gave the Red Raiders an 8-4 lead.

Needing a shutdown inning to keep the momentum, the new Red Raider pitcher, lefty Ryan Free, worked around a lead-off walk to fire the ever-important shutdown inning.

Back for a second inning of work, the Red Raiders continued to hit Qualia hard, as a 107 MPH seed off the bat of Shouse resulted in a 4-3 putout for out number one.

Down in the count 0-2, Hughes again worked a quality at-bat, winning an eight-pitch battle on his team-leading 20th base-on-balls of the season. Through the season's first 16 games, Hughes' on-base percentage sits at .532.

The walk proved to be a catalyst for the Red Raider bats to once again threaten in the seventh, as the free pass was followed by back-to-back singles from Garcia and Ferraro that loaded the bases for Villeneuve.

Down in the count (1-2), Villeneuve ripped the offering he saw from Qualia back up the box for a two-run single that scored Hughes from third and Garcia from second.

The two-run single gave Tech a 10-4 lead.

Looking to sneak back into the game, the Roadrunners used a pair of walks and an RBI single from Josh Arquette to cut the Red Raider lead to 10-5.

Trying to shut down any thought of a comeback from the opposition, the Red Raiders turned to Rusinek on the mound.

On a cold night, Rusinek walked the first batter he faced on four pitches, before using a 6-4-3 double play to take the game to the home-half of the eighth with the Red Raiders in front.

Returning for the ninth, Ruisnek became the second Red Raider of the series to strike out the UTSA side in the ninth, this time sealing a Red Raider victory.

One of the nation's best freshmen and two-way standouts, Rusinek is now hitting .500 (17-for-34) on the season with six extra-base hits. On the mound, the native of Brock, has now pitched to a 3.18 ERA and a batting average against of just .158. He has struck out six batters in 5.2 innings of work.

Not to be lost in the victory was solid work out of the bullpen from Tech Sophomore Will Jordan who tossed another scoreless inning in the sixth to earn his second win of the season. Jordan also lowered his ERA to 1.29 through his first seven innings pitched. Jordan struck out two the eighth and ninth batters he has fanned this season.

After tonight's victory, the Red Raiders again move to six-games-above-.500, the season's highwater mark. Tech was also six-over-.500 after Sunday's game three, sweep-clinching win of Penn State.

Entering the series with No. 24 UTSA having scored eight times in 11-straight contests, the Red Raiders scored eight and 10 runs over the two game series to bring the streak that started at UTRGV three weeks ago (Feb. 17).

With the win, the Red Raiders also improve to 10-2 on the Rip Griffin Park record 15-game homestand with just three games (vs. Kansas, Fri-Sun) left. With a series win against the Jayhawks, Tech can equal its 2025 home win total of 12.

Despite getting swept on opening weekend in Arlington, the Red Raiders have also not dropped a series this season (swept UAlbany, won the series vs. CSUB, Swept Penn State and split the series with No. 24 UTSA).

UP NEXT:
The Red Raiders will next turn to their attention to the start of Big 12 play this weekend when the Jayhawks of Kansas come to town for a three-game series this Friday-Sunday. First pitch for Friday's Big 12 opener is set for 6:30 p.m.