TCU Baseball Loses Home Opener
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FORT WORTH – No. 19 Cal State Fullerton jumped out to a 4-0 lead and went on to hand No. 20 TCU a 7-2 loss Friday night at Lupton Stadium. Keaton Jones drove in the lone runs for the Horned Frogs.
After falling behind early, the Frogs had their chances to either tie the game or take the lead late in the game. TCU combined to leave six runners on in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.
Trailing by three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Frogs got a lead-off single from Keaton Jones. With two outs, Jantzen Witte doubled to the right center gap to put two runners in scoring position, forcing the Titans to go to the bullpen. Koby Gauna did the job and got out of the jam without allowing any runs to score.
Fullerton translated the momentum into a run in the top of the seventh to open up a four-run cushion. A bunt single followed by an error had the Titans in business. With two outs and runners on the corners, Chad Wallach came through with a two-out base hit to drive in the run.
TCU would answer in the bottom of the frame, cutting the lead in half. Jerrick Suiter drew a one-out walk to start the rally and Brett Johnson singled through the right side to put two on with one out. Travis Hennessey worked a walk to load the bases. Keaton Jones came through, slapping the ball to right field for a two-run single to make it 4-2.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Frogs once again put together a two-out rally as
they attempted to tie the game. Cody Jones led off the inning with a double. A two-out walk to Derek Odell and a hit batter loaded the bases, but the Frogs couldn’t come up with the two-out hit to keep the inning alive.
Again, Fullerton used the momentum swing and extended its lead. A lead-off single from Keegan Dale was followed by a triple off the bat of Carlos Lopez. He scored on a wild pitch and Michael Lorenzen doubled in another run to account for the final score of 7-2.
Cal State Fullerton opened up a 1-0 lead in the first inning as it took advantage of a lead-off walk to Ricky Pedroza. A passed ball followed by a wild pitch had the shortstop standing on third with nobody out. Lopez hit a ground ball to second to drive in the first run of the game.
The Titans got the lead off man on in each of the next three innings, but Finnegan was able to work out of danger in each of those frames.
A one-out infield single in the top of the fifth helped the Titans open up a 3-0 lead in the game. Pedroza tripled home Austin Diemer and scored on a two-out single from Matt Chapman.
Brandon Finnegan (0-2) was tagged with the loss after giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits. He walked four and struck out three in 4 2/3 innings. Trey Teakell allowed an unearned run on three hits to go along with three strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. Stefan Crichton allowed a pair of runs in one-plus inning of work. Justin Scharf also surrendered a run in an inning of work.
TCU falls to 0-4 on the young season. Game two of the series against the Titans (6-0) is set for Saturday afternoon. First pitch is 2 p.m. at Lupton Stadium.
