TCU Baseball Stays Alive
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COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The TCU Horned Frogs staved off elimination in a big way as they exploded for a 28-12 victory over Dayton Saturday afternoon. The Frogs smacked four home runs and were led by Jerrick Suiter’s five-hit afternoon.
After falling behind 9-6 in the fifth inning, the Horned Frogs exploded for 22 runs over the final four innings to rally for the win. The Frogs put a seven spot up on the board in the sixth inning and never looked back.
Nine batters reached base in the inning before the first out was recorded. Kyle Von Tungeln drove in the first run of the inning with a bases-loaded bloop single to right. An error by the pitcher on a ball hit right at him allowed the tying runs to cross the plate.
A walk to Kevin Cron reloaded the bases for Witte. He hit a grounder right at the third baseman, but the throw home was wide and the Frogs had a 10-9 lead. Derek Odell stretched the lead with a two-run single and scored on a base hit by Suiter to make it a 13-9 contest.
Six more runs crossed the plate for the Frogs in the seventh inning as the lead grew to 10, 19-9. Brance Rivera was plunked for the third time to open the inning, stole second and scored on a base hit by Von Tungeln. Cron launched his fifth home run of the season to drive in a pair. Witte doubled and scored on an error on a ball hit by Odell. Suiter tripled in Odell and scored on a Zac Jordan base hit.
Josh Gonzales’ pinch hit two-run home run and a grand slam by Rivera highlighted a nine-run ninth inning for
TCU. Three consecutive doubles by Witte, Gonzales and Suiter drove in three more runs to make it a 28-9 contest.
The Flyers got a three-run home run from Jared Broughton in the bottom of the ninth to account for the final score.
TCU jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second. Odell started the inning with a hit. A base knock by Suiter had runners on the corners and Jordan singled in the first run. Rivera dropped down a two-run suicide squeeze to make it 3-0. A Cron base hit made it a 4-0 game after two innings.
In the bottom of the third, the Flyers took advantage of a walk and a hit batter to jump-start their offense. A bunt single loaded the bases with nobody out and a hot smash up the middle by Brian Basik made it a 4-1 contest. A fielder’s choice drove in a run and a pair of miscues that included a throwing error and a balk tied the game at four before the inning was over.
TCU quickly regained its lead in the top of the fourth. Rivera was hit by the pitch with one out and scored on a long home run off the bat of Elander to put the Frogs in front, 6-4.
Dayton pulled within one, 6-5 in the bottom of the inning. Another hit batter proved costly as Jared Broughton scored on a two-out single off the bat of Blasik.
Another two out rally for the Flyers put them in front for the first time. The big blow was a three-run blast off the bat of Robby Sunderman that put the Flyers on top 9-6.
Justin Scharf (3-2) won the game in relief after pitching 1 1/3 innings. He allowed just one hit and picked off a batter. Andrew Mitchell was charged with five runs (four earned) on two hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out four. Nick Frey made his return to the mound and pitched two scoreless innings.
TCU improves to 37-20 overall. The Frogs will play the loser of tonight’s game between Ole Miss and Texas A&M. First pitch will be 12:35 p.m. at Blue Bell Park.
