Damian Bravo's 11th-inning homer gives Texas Tech baseball win over UCF

Yahoo

21-05-2025

This story has been updated with post-game video and comments.
The Texas Tech baseball team had done nothing against Alex Galvan for three innings.
Damian Bravo changed all that with one swing. The Tech right fielder clubbed a leadoff home run in the 11th, lifting the Red Raiders to a 3-2 victory over Central Florida in the second game of a Big 12 series May 10 at Dan Law Field/Rip Griffin Park.
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Galvan had thrown three consecutive three-up, three-down innings with seven ground-ball outs. Bravo hit an 80-mph breaking ball for a towering drive that had just enough to get out as left fielder Chase Krewson went back and watched it vanish over the wall.
"I was as shocked as probably everyone in the stands," said Bravo, who didn't think the ball would carry enough against the crosswind. "I saw him running all the way back, and I was like, 'Aw, it's at the warning track.' And then I see him give a little courtesy jump, and I'm like, 'Oh, my God. It went out,' and it's excitement after that."
"It seemed like the wind was just right at the moment," Tech coach Tim Tadlock added. "I think there were probably times today when maybe the wind was just a little bit more north or northeast, maybe knocks it down a little bit. He backspun the ball pretty good, though, and glad he did it."
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The homer touched off jubilation among the Red Raiders (18-29, 12-14 in the Big 12), including their dozen-plus relief pitchers sprinting in from the bullpen in left field.
"They were full-on chasing me," Bravo said, "so I had to beat 'em home."
Andrew Williamson had a first-inning home run and a single for UCF (26-24, 7-19). They were the only hits off Tech starter Tyler Boudreau, who went 5 2/3 innings. Winning pitcher Jack Cebert (7-2) went the last 5 1/3, allowing five hits and the tying run in the eighth.
The series finale is scheduled for 1 p.m. May 11. The Red Raiders plan to recognize six seniors at 12:45 p.m.
Where to watch Texas Tech baseball vs. Central Florida
Texas Tech right fielder Damian Bravo, shown in a game last season, hit a game-winning home run in the 11th inning Saturday to lift the Red Raiders over Central Florida 3-2.
∎ Online streaming: ESPN+
Texas Tech baseball vs. Central Florida start times
∎ Game 3: 1 p.m. May 11
Texas Tech baseball vs. Central Florida Game 2 live updates
Final: Texas Tech 3, UCF 2 in 11 innings
Damian Bravo led off the 11th inning with a home run to left field, giving Texas Tech its first victory in walk-off fashion since April 1, 2024. Bravo's homer came off Alex Galvan, who had thrown three three-up, three-down innings in a row that included seven groundouts.
Middle of 8th inning: Texas Tech 2, UCF 2
UCF tied it in the eighth as Dylan King reached on an infield single, moved up on a walk and a sacrifice, then scored on a groundout by Edian Espinal.
End of 7th inning: Texas Tech 2, UCF 1
Texas Tech came up empty from a bases-loaded, no-outs opportunity in the seventh. After base hits by Davis Rivers, Coleman Ryan and Tracer Lopez, UCF reliever Kevin Schoneboom retired Kyeler Thompson on a liner to second base and Logan Hughes on a double play. It was the fourth double play the Knights have turned in the game.
Middle of 6th inning: Texas Tech 2, UCF 1
Texas Tech starting pitcher Tyler Boudreau allowed only two hits — a home run and a single by Andrew Williamson — over 5 2/3 innings. With the bases empty and two outs in the sixth, Boudreau walked Edian Espinal and, rather than let him face Williamson again, Tech coach Tim Tadlock brought in Jack Cebert. Williamson drove Cebert's first pitch to the warning track in center field, but Kyeler Thompson ran it down to end the inning.
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Boudreau struck out six and walked two.
End of 3rd inning: Texas Tech 2, UCF 1
Texas Tech manufactured a run in the third to take the lead. Leadoff batter Davis Rivers was hit by a pitch and moved up a base each on Coleman Ryan's bunt single, Tracer Lopez's fly to right and Thompson's sacrifice fly to left.
End of 2nd inning: UCF 1, Texas Tech 1
Texas Tech tied it in the second inning. Damian Bravo led off with a double, Antonelli Savattere bunted him to third and Robin Villeneuve singled him home.
Middle of 1st inning: UCF 1, Texas Tech 0
Knights right fielder Andrew Williamson homered in the first inning for the second day in a row. His 11th of the season was a solo shot to center field off Tech starter Tyler Boudreau.
Texas Tech baseball vs. Central Florida series opener summary
UCF 7, Texas Tech 3: Antonio Jimenez broke a 2-2 tie with an RBI double in the seventh inning and scored on a Chase Krewson single. Andrew Williamson belted a two-run homer in the first inning for UCF, which ended a six-game losing streak in conference play. Braden Calise added a two-run single in the ninth. The start of the game was delayed 2 ½ hours because of lightning in the area. Coleman Ryan and Kyeler Thompson each had two hits, including an RBI single, for Tech. Winning pitcher Dominic Castellano (6-1) allowed a run on two hits over 2 2/3 innings.
Texas Tech baseball vs. Central Florida starting pitchers
∎ May 11: Texas Tech RHP Zane Petty (1-3, 5.57) vs. RHP Matt Sauser (3-2, 3.41).
Texas Tech baseball next five games
Home games in ALL CAPS. Asterisks (*) denote Big 12 games. All times CDT.
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∎ May 13: ABILENE CHRISTIAN, 2 p.m.
∎ May 15: at Brigham Young*, 7 p.m.
∎ May 16: at Brigham Young*, 7 p.m.
∎ May 17: at Brigham Young*, 2 p.m.
∎ May 21-24: Big 12 tournament, Arlington
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Damian Bravo's 11th-inning homer gives Texas Tech baseball win vs. UCF