Baylor Blows Early Lead, Loses Series to Texas Tech with 9-8 Loss in Finale

LUBBOCK, Texas – Baylor baseball (22-13, 6-9) dropped its second straight conference series with a 9-8 loss to Texas Tech (11-20, 7-8) in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Rip Griffin Park.

The Bears led 5-0 after the top of the second inning but were outscored 9-3 across the rest of the game. Shortstop Tyriq Kemp (Sr.) finished the contest 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs. Seven of the Bears’ 12 hits came in the first two innings.

“We had our opportunities, but it was a tough one to lose,” head coach Mitch Thompson told ESPN Central Texas post-game. “The guys competed hard, but it was a tough ballgame. It’s frustrating. It hurts. We wanted to win.”

Baylor jumped out to a 5-0 lead following multiple RBI doubles from Kemp and a home run from right fielder Enzo Apodaca (RSr.) — his sixth of the season — across the first two innings.

In the bottom of the second, Baylor saw its 5-0 lead shrink after back-to-back-to-back singles and an error helped Texas Tech cut its deficit to 5-3. In the third inning, first baseman Robin Villeneuve (Sr.) tied the game on a two-run homer.

Third baseman Pearson Riebock (Fr.) opened the fifth inning with a leadoff single, and second baseman Travis Sanders (RSo.) plated him on an RBI single through the right side. Riebock later came around to score on an RBI ground out from catcher JJ Kennett (Sr.), giving Baylor a 7-5 lead.

Texas Tech gained its first lead of the afternoon in the bottom of the fifth inning after opening the frame with back-to-back-to-back singles. Later in the inning, third baseman Grant Boehm (So.) walked with the bases loaded, and center fielder Kendyl Johnson (Fr.) gave the Red Raiders an 8-7 lead on an RBI fielder’s choice.

Both teams added another run late, but the Bears stranded Sanders on first base to close the game.

 

Final: Texas Tech 9, Baylor 8

W: Jack Cebert (4-2) L: Lucas Davenport (2-1)

POTG: Tyriq Kemp (3-5, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI)

WHAT’S NEXT

The Bears (22-13) will face UT Arlington (12-19) for a midweek matchup on Tuesday, April 15, at 6 p.m. at Clay Gould Ballpark. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.