TCU Baseball Splits Doubleheader at West Virginia

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CHARLESTON, W. Va.- A six-run first inning proved to be the difference as TCU salvaged the doubleheader split with a 7-4 win over West Virginia Saturday night.

The TCU bullpen was masterful in helping hold the West Virginia bats in check. The group of Stefan Crichton (4-3), Trevor Seidenberger, Justin Scharf, Travis Evans and Riley Ferrell held West Virginia to just four hits and struck out eight in 6 1/3 innings of work.

Crichton earned the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings, while Ferrell picked up his second save of the season with 2 1/3 scoreless frames that included four punch outs. Brandon Finnegan started for TCU and allowed four runs on six hits, walked four and struck out four in 2 2/3 innings of play in the no-decision.

Ten men came to the plate for the Frogs as they opened up a 6-0 lead after a half inning play. Cody Jones worked a lead-off walk and moved to second on a Boomer White base hit. Jantzen Witte doubled down the left field line for a 2-0 lead. With one out, Derek Odell battled through a 10-pitch at-bat before doubling to right center to drive in Witte.

An error on a pop up from Brett Johnson gifted the Frogs an extra out. With the infield in, Keaton Jones

lined a double to right center for a 5-0 lead and scored on a Kyle Bacak base hit to give the Frogs a commanding 6-0 lead.

West Virginia got two of the runs back in the bottom of the inning as it took advantage of a trio of walks to lead off the frame. Ryan Tuntland singled in the first run of the game and Ryan McBroom hit a sacrifice fly to make it a 6-2 game. With the bases loaded and two out, Finnegan got a strikeout and a ground out to end the inning.

TCU added a run to its lead in the third inning as it took advantage of a lead-off double from Odell. Keaton Jones singled to put runners on the corners and Odell raced home on a two-out wild pitch to make it a 7-2 game.

The Mountaineers closed the gap again in the bottom of the third as McBroom hit a two-run home run to left center to make it a 7-4 game. Two hits and a walk later, the bases were loaded again prompting the Frogs to go to the bullpen. Crichton came on and struck out Taylor Munden looking to end the inning.

The bullpens took over and settled the game down. Both teams had their share of base runners, but could not come through with the hits to score the runs.

TCU’s best chance to add to its lead came in the top of the seventh with the bases loaded and one out. West Virginia threw out a runner at home trying to score on a wild pitch.

The Mountaineers brought the tying run to the plate in the fifth inning, but Seidenberger got a line drive double play to end the frame. The tying run came to the plate again in the seventh, this time with nobody out. Scharf got a fly ball to center then gave way to Evans, who induced an infield fly. Ferrell closed out the inning with a strikeout.

TCU improves to 24-25 overall and 9-11 in Big 12 play. The rubber match of the series is slated for a Noon (CST) start on Sunday afternoon. Andrew Mitchell will toe the rubber for the Horned Frogs.

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