Tech drops 5-4 heartbreaker to TCU

Sunday, March 29

Fort Worth, TX

1 p.m.

Texas Tech Athletics

16-11, 4-5

TCU

17-10, 5-4

Texas Tech

TCU

March 29, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Red Raiders led 4-2 after 7.5 innings before the Horned Frogs scored three runs in the eighth

By: Andrew Stern

FORT WORTH – Redshirt freshman Jackson Burns tossed six innings of two-run ball and struck out eight, but it was not enough, as Texas Tech Baseball saw TCU use three eighth inning runs to win 5-4 Sunday afternoon at Lupton Stadium.

Pitching for the third straight Sunday, Burns was sensational allowing just six hits and two runs. Burns walked just one and struck out eight batters.

The eight punchouts were the most by a Texas Tech (16-11, 4-5 Big 12) pitcher in an outing this season and were a new career-high for Burns.

Being no hit through nearly six innings, the Red Raiders used a pair of productive outs in the third and sixth innings to pull even with TCU (17-10, 5-4 Big 12) without the benefit of a hit.

The no-hitter for TCU starter Zack James was eventually broken up by a two out single from designated hitter Caden Ferraro.

Locked in a battle, the Red Raiders used a go-ahead RBI double from Logan Hughes and an RBI single to center from Ferraro to race out to a 4-2 lead in the eighth.

The double from Hughes, which gave Tech a 3-2 lead, scored Tracer Lopez from third. Lopez, who doubled down the left field line to start the frame, recorded his 198th career hit on Sunday afternoon.

Up 4-2 and just six outs for salvaging the series finale, the Red Raiders saw the Horned Frogs score three times with two outs to take a 5-4 lead.

The big blow for TCU was a single through the left-side from first baseman Cole Cramer that looked to just tie the game, but the umpires ruled that TCUs Jack Bell was interfered with by Tech third baseman Connor Shouse. Bell, who was going to be held at third base was awarded home on the interference.

In the ninth, TCUs Noah Franco set the Red Raiders down 1-2-3, as Tech was held to just four runs and a season-low four hits.

Franco, who earned the win for TCU, got four key outs and struck out two. He allowed just one hit and no runs.

The loss for Texas Tech was charged to sophomore Will Jordan who allowed three hits and three runs in the deciding eighth inning.

In addition to the six innings from Burns, the Red Raiders got a strong seventh inning from sophomore south paw Jorden Espinoza who struck out two including a punchout to strand the bases loaded on a full-count.

UP NEXT:
Looking to put the tough weekend in Fort Worth behind them, the Red Raiders return home this weekend for the start of a four-game homestand on Tuesday night when the Wildcats of ACU come to town.

First pitch from Rip Griffin Park for the Lubbock portion of the home-and-home midweek series with ACU is set for 6:30 p.m.