The TCU Horned Frogs (31-8) pulled out an extra inning win against the Baylor Bears (24-17) Tuesday night at Lupton Stadium. TCU has won 11 of their last 12 games.
With one out and runners on second and third, junior designated hitter Joe Weik hit a sacrifice fly to left field in the tenth inning, driving home a run and securing the 5-4 victory.
A scoreless first inning was followed by a productive at bat for the Horned Frogs in the second. Sophomore Taylor Featherston doubled to left center and scored on a single by junior Jerome Pena. Pena stole second base and a throwing error by third base allowed sophomore Brance Rivera to reach and Pena to score an unearned run. Senior Bryan Holaday drove Rivera home with a double to left center, which concluded the offensive surge.
The game remained scoreless until the Bears began to take advantage of starting senior pitcher Paul Gerrish. In the fifth inning, back to back hits and a single by Baylor’s Tyler Collins got the Bears on the board with two runs.
A two run homer by Baylor’s Abel Baker put the Bears in the lead, and senior Tyler Lockwood was called in for relief. Lockwood inherited one runner with only one out, but promptly retired the next the batters to complete the inning.
Although the Bears’ defense was ridden with errors, they maintained the one run lead until the final at bat for the Horned Frogs.
The lone hit of the ninth was a single to the right side that came off the bat of Freshman Josh Elander. Regardless, the bases soon became loaded due to two walks by Baylor’s closing pitcher Brooks Pinckard. Redshirt sophomore Aaron Schultz was hit by a pitch, which brought in the game tying run.
With two outs and two runners on base in the tenth, Lockwood was replaced by freshman Matt Purke. Purke threw two pitches before his batter grounded out.
Both Rivera and Holaday were hit by pitches to get on base, and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Jason Coats. Weik then came to the plate, hitting the game winning sacrifice.
The Horned Frogs will travel Baylor again Wednesday to complete the home-and-home series.
