Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Houston
Tech falls 8-6 to UH despite Lopez’ 200th hit
April 02, 2026 | Baseball
The senior infielder doubled home a pair of to reach the milestone
LUBBOCK, Texas – In his 192nd career game, senior Tracer Lopez doubled home a pair to reach 200-career hits, but it was not enough, as Texas Tech fell 8-6 Thursday night to the University of Houston at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
The two-run double, his 11th of the season, cut the Texas Tech (17-12, 4-6 Big 12) deficit to 8-6 in the bottom of the seventh.
With Lopez on second and the tying run at the plate in the form of the Red Raiders RBI leader, Connor Shouse, Houston's (14-14, 2-8 Big 12) Ryne Rodriguez behind in the count coaxed a popup to keep the Cougars on top by a pair.
The out proved to be the last time the Red Raiders had a runner in scoring position, as Rodriguez used a 1-2-3 eighth and a clutch 7-3 double play in the ninth to secure his third save of the season and nail down the win for UH.
The loss marks the first time Tech has fallen to UH since the Cougars joined the Big 12 Conference. Tech swept the 2024 series in Lubbock and the 2025 series in Houston and had previously won eight in-a-row in the all-time series.
In the setback the Red Raiders scored three times in the fifth and seventh innings to record their 42nd and 43rd crooked numbers of the season through just 29 games.
With the final 3+ run inning, their 43rd of the season, the Red Raiders surpassed their season total from a season ago.
After the Red Raiders saw UH score three times in the third and fifth to take a 6-0 lead, Tech used back-to-back singles from shortstop Linkin Garcia and DH Caden Ferraro to place two on with no out from Quintanar.
On the second pitch Quintanar saw from UHs Connor Udland, the catcher ripped a two-run double off the base of the wall in left. Udland who tossed five innings and allowed just five hits and three runs Thursday, earned his second win of the season.
The double brought the Red Raiders to within 6-2.
With one out and Robin Villeneuve at the plate, the Red Raider first baseman brought his side to within 6-3 on another RBI double this time into the right field corner.
After Kaysen Raineri worked around a second and third two out jam in the top of the sixth, UH's southpaw Rodriguez allowed a lead-off single to Shouse, before striking out Logan Hughes and inducing an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play from Garcia.
In the seventh, UH used a two-run home run from first baseman Cade Clime to race out in front 8-3.
Trailing by five runs, the Red Raiders mounted a two-out rally against Rodriguez using back-to-back singles from right fielder Jesse Ruisnek and Villeneuve to place two on with two outs.
Hitting the first pitch he saw from the left-hander Rodriguez, Texas Tech CF Kyeler Thompson dunked a ball into right that scored Rusinek from second.
On the play, Houston's right fielder Xavier Perez momentarily booted the ball as Thompson sped toward second. With Villeneuve initially holding at second, Thompson ultimately reached second safely when a Clime drop in the midst of the rundown allowed the speedster to reach second.
On the play, Villeneuve ultimately reached third, setting the stage for the two-run double from Lopez.
After the two sides traded 1-2-3 innings in the eighth, righty Logan Addison worked around a one out walk to keep the game at 8-6.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Red Raiders almost got the lead-off man on to bring the tying run to the plate, but Houston's Antonelli Savattere made a diving stop on a 3-1 Quintanar ball up the middle destined for centerfield.
The former Red Raiders and was able to make a strong throw from his knees to record the innings first out. In his return to Lubbock, Savattere went 2-for-4 with an RBI single and made three nice diving plays on ground balls in the field.
After a Ruisnek single to right put the tying run on base with one out, Villeneuve looped a 1-1 pitch into shallow left field that UHs Blake Field was able to snag. On the run, the speedy Field uncorked a throw to first that beat Rusinek to the bag for a game-ending 7-3 double play.
UP NEXT:
The Red Raiders will look to bounce back on Friday afternoon and even the weekend series at one-all. First pitch from Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park is set for 2 p.m.
