It was a night of fireworks at UC Baseball Stadium—and not just from the bats. The Cincinnati Bearcats launched five home runs in a dominant 13-1 rout of Texas Tech, but the real drama came when tempers boiled over on the mound.
Things unraveled quickly for Texas Tech starter Kaysen Raineri. After surrendering three consecutive home runs, the sophomore right-hander plunked the next batter he faced. Umpire Mark Winters wasted no time, ejecting Raineri from the game. When head coach Tim Tadlock stormed out to argue, he was tossed too—his second ejection of the season.
If there's any consolation for the Red Raiders, it's that the loss was mercifully quick. Cincinnati invoked the run rule, ending the game in just seven innings and a brisk 2 hours, 14 minutes. The final score: 13-1.
Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist Quinton Coats was the star of the show, crushing his 26th and 27th home runs of the season—both three-run blasts. He also added two doubles and drove in six runs, pushing his season RBI total to 73. Jack Natili wasn't far behind, launching his 15th and 16th homers and finishing with four RBIs. Derrick Pitts also went deep for the Bearcats (36-18, 16-12 in Big 12 play), who are eyeing their sixth straight conference series win.
Raineri (4-2) was charged with all five homers, including back-to-back-to-back shots by Coats, Pitts, and Natili in the fourth inning that made it 11-0. After a mound visit, Raineri hit Enzo Infelise with his first pitch, prompting the ejection. Tadlock followed shortly after, marking the second time this season he's been tossed—the first came on April 2 against Houston.
Texas Tech (26-26, 9-19) managed just five hits, with leadoff batter Kyeler Thompson collecting two. Connor Shouse drove in the Red Raiders' lone run with a fifth-inning single.
Bearcats starter Nathan Taylor (6-2) was sharp, allowing just one run on four hits and a walk over 5 1/3 innings while striking out seven.
The series continues Friday at 5 p.m. and concludes Saturday at noon. For Texas Tech, it's a chance to regroup. For Cincinnati, it's another opportunity to keep the bats hot and the momentum rolling.