After a two and a half hour rain delay the the No. 27 TCU Horned Frogs defeated the No. 26 Oklahoma University Sooners, 11-4 Tuesday night.The Frogs’ bats remained hot in the opening of a nine home game stretch. A big second inning helped the Frogs to distance themselves from the Sooners. A single through the left side by junior Steve Ellington and walk by sophomore Ben Carruthers put runners on the bases for junior Bryan Kervin. A sacrifice infield hit from Kervin moved Ellington and Carruthers into scoring position and brought senior Steven Trout up to the plate. Swinging on the first pitch, Trout singled to center field diring in Ellington and advancing Carruthers to third.
With runners on first and third, senior Austin Adams doubled to left field driving in two runs for the Frogs. Walks by Walker and Vern loaded the bases for junior Clint Arnold. Arnold grounded up the middle on a 0-2 pitch by Sooner reliever freshman Andrew Doyle. Adams crossed the plate for the Frogs, earning the team’s fifth run. A fielding error by OU junior Aljay Davis allowed for Walker to get the sixth run for the Frogs.
Sooner freshman Devin Shepherd led off the top of the third with a walk off of TCU senior Chase Perry. A throwing error by Perry advanced Shepherd to third. Shepherd was able to come around and score the Sooner’s first run off of a single up the left side by OU junior Aaron Reza bringing the score to 6-1, in favor of the Frogs.
A single to right by Shepherd and walk by Junior Mike Gosse led to a change at the mound in the top of the fifth with freshman Tyler Lockwood in to relieve Perry. A single down the first base side by Reza loaded the bases for the Sooners. A wild pitch by Lockwood allowed brought in a Sooner run bring the score to 6-2. The pitch also advanced Reza to second and Grosse to third. An RBI ground out by OU sophomore Brandon Moss provided the Sooner’s third run of the game.
The Frogs’ continued to light up the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth with doubles from Kervin, Vern and Arnold. Ellington began the inning with a single to left followed by the Kervin double to left field. A walk by Trout loaded the bases and a walk by Walker earned the Frogs’ seventh run. With the bases still loaded, a 2 RBI double by Vern brought Kervin and Trout across the plate. A 2-run double by Arnold drove in Walker and Vern padded the TCU lead, 11-3.
A good defensive effort by the Frogs held the Sooners to only four runs on the night. Lockwood recorded the win for the Frogs and Brad Burns was handed the loss. The Frogs improve to 28-9 on the season while the Sooners fall to 25-14. Mountain West Conference play heats back up when the Frogs host Brigham Young University beginning Thursday. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Lupton Stadium.
