TCU Can’t Overcome Errors In 11-10 Loss
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FULLERTON, Calif. – A nine-run fourth inning proved to be the difference in an 11-10 loss to Cal State Fullerton in a game that was shortened to eight innings because of a travel curfew. Jason Coats tallied four hits in the loss.
Trey Teakell (0-1) allowed eight runs (five earned) on eight hits in three-plus innings. He struck out two and walked one. Nick Frey tossed three innings, allowing three unearned runs on four hits with four strikeouts. Kaleb Merck pitched two scoreless innings, allowing a hit, a walk and striking out three.
TCU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Kyle Von Tungeln led off the game with a base hit, but was erased on a bunt attempt by Derek Odell. Jason Coats reached on an infield single to put two on with one out. The duo of Odell and Coats executed a double steal and Zac Jordan made it count with a clutch single to left to give the Frogs the lead.
Cal State Fullerton cut the lead in half, but left the bases loaded. Michael Lorenzen doubled and reached third on an error to open the inning and scored on a one-out single from Carlos Lopez.
The Titans tied the game, taking advantage of a lead-off single from Keegan Dale. Richey Pedroza lined a double to right, plating Dale to make it a 2-2 contest.
With one swing of the bat, Von Tungeln broke the tie as he connected for his first career home run to help TCU regain a 3-2 lead.
The wheels came off in the fourth as TCU committed four errors that turned into nine Titan runs. The big blows came from Lorenzen whose bases loaded single gave Fullerton the 4-3 lead and a
two-run triple from Dale that made it 10-3. All told, the four errors led to six unearned runs in the inning as the Titans opened up an 11-3 lead.
TCU got four of the runs back as it batted around in the fifth inning. Odell hit a bases loaded single and Coats followed with a two-run base knock to make it an 11-6 game. Jordan brought the Frogs closer with a sacrifice fly to pull the Frogs within four, 11-7.
The Frogs inched closer in the sixth, scoring a run on a pair of hits. Davy Wright led off the inning with a double and scored on a two-out hit from Coats to make it an 11-8 game.
A two-run seventh inning pulled TCU within one, 11-10. Mattson drove in Jordan and Wright lined a single off the pitcher to plate Brett Johnson. The Frogs looked poised to tie and possibly take the lead in the top of the eighth after Coats led off the inning with a double. Elander singled to put runners on the corners with nobody out. With the bases loaded and one out the Titan pitcher fanned Mattson and Elander was thrown out at home trying to score on a potential wild pitch.
TCU (2-4) will open up an eight-game homestand Tuesday night when it plays host to Texas State. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m.
