Hughes’ big night not enough, as Tech falls to No. 10 OU

Tuesday, April 1

Frisco, Texas

6:30 p.m.

Texas Tech Athletics

8-17

No. 10 Oklahoma

23-5

Oklahoma

Texas Tech

Hughes’ big night not enough, as Tech falls to No. 10 OU

April 02, 2025 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Red Raiders cut a 6-1 deficit to 6-3 and an 8-3 deficit to 8-6 before falling

By: Andrew Stern

FRISCO, Texas – Down 6-1 early, Tech pulled to within 6-3 and 8-6, before ultimately falling by that same scoreline to No. 10 OU at Riders Stadium Tuesday night.

In the setback, Texas Tech (8-17) got a pair of RBIs from Logan Hughes and Robin Villeneuve. Hughes who reached base four times walked twice, homered and had an RBI single in the ninth while Villeneuve drove in a run in the first and one in the sixth.

The Red Raiders brought the tying run to the plate in form of Villeneuve, who grounded into a force out to end the game.

Down 1-0 early after a lead-off home by Oklahoma's (23-5) Jason Walk, Texas Tech starter Connor Mohan escaped further damage when he stranded the bases loaded on a deflected grounder up the middle that deflected off Mohan and fell right to Tracer Lopez at second base.

In their turn in the first, Tech loaded the bases with nobody out of Oklahoma (23-5) starter Cameron Johnson. Johnson pitched just one-third of an inning and landed just eight of his 24 pitches from strikes.

With first baseman Robin Villeneuve strolling to the plate, the Tennessee transfer nearly delivered a big swing as he smoked a line drive deep into the gap that Walk ran down.

Villeneuve's flyout did plate Kyeler Thompson from third, as Tech tied the game at one. With the bases re-loaded in the frame and one man out, Lopez grounded into a 6-6-3 two-ball that ended the first.

Remaining 1-1 until the third, Tech turned to junior lefty Zach Crotchfelt who allowed four runs in the frame, three of which came with two outs.

Down 5-1, Tech went down in order in their half of the third.

After OU made it 6-1 on a lead-off home run by Jaxon Willits in the fourth, the game stayed 6-1 until the sixth when a lead-off walk from Thompson sparked a two-run inning.

With Thompson on second and one out for Villeneuve, the first baseman scored the speedy Thompson from second on an RBI single through the right side that made it 6-2.

With Hughes on second and Villeneuve on first, pinch-hitter Peyton Shulze walked to load the bases once again for Lopez.

Like he did in the first, Lopez hit it on the ground, this time through the right-side. OUs Kyle Branch ranged deep into the hole and made a diving stop. In one clean swoop, Branch wheeled and fired to first to retire Lopez. Destined for a two-run single, the Red Raiders settled instead for the RBI grounder that made it 6-3.

With the tying run at the plate and a pair of runners in scoring position, the Red Raiders hit for catcher Hudson Parker and brought Davis Rivers to the plate.

After seeing just one pitch from OUs Reid Hensley, a ball, the Sooners decided to bring in left-hander Gavyn Jones.

To counteract the lefty-lefty matchup, Tech turned to Dylan Maxcey off the bench. Maxcey ultimately took the first pitch he saw from Jones to center for a loud fly out that ended the threat.

With a scoreless inning in the sixth to his account, Tech brought righty Lukas Pirko back for a second inning.

After striking out the lead-off batter, Pirko allowed a double and wild pitch to bring Walk to the plate with a runner on third base and one out. Ahead in 0-2, Pirko ended up winning an eight-pitch battle when he coaxed a comeback for the second out of the inning.

OUs next batter, catcher Easton Carmichael, also fell behind 0-2, before taking a pitch wide of the strike zone. Still ahead in the count, Pirko's next offering was smoked by Carmichael for a two-run home run that gave the Sooners an 8-4 lead.

Looking to claw back into the game, the Red Raiders got a one-out walk from Coleman Ryan to place a runner on base for Thompson.

Batting from the right-hand side against the lefty Jones, Thompson looped a ball down the right field line that looked to be sinking fast before Branch ranged deep from his position at second base to make a diving catch for the second out of the inning.

Jones and the Sooners ultimately retired the side one batter later when the lanky left snagged a 103 MPH line drive off the bat of Damian Bravo for the third and final out of the frame.

Down 8-4 after a scoreless eighth inning from freshman Will Jordan, the Red Raiders used a lead-off bomb from Hughes to pull to within 8-5.

Tech's next batter, Villeneuve, reached on an error to place another runner on base, but OU managed to retire the next three batters in order.

Seeking three runs in the ninth, Tech got off to a good start when Antonelli Savattere pinch hit and tripled home Kendyl Johnson to begin the frame. With Savattere on third, OU turned to the nations saves leader in Dylan Crooks seeking to nail down his ninth save.

Crooks quickly retired the next two batters before allowing an infield hit to Hughes that plated Savattere.

The single brought the tying-run to the plate in the form of the 2023 JUCO HR leader (Villeneuve).

Down in the count 0-1, Villeneuve smoked a ball deep into the six-hole, that Willits was able to glove and flip to second for the 27th and final out of the game.

UP NEXT:
The Red Raiders return home for a pivotal weekend series against the University of Cincinnati. First pitch from Rip Griffin Park is set for 6:30 p.m.