TCU Clinches Series With 2-1 Thriller Over New Mexico
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FORT WORTH, Texas – Kevin Cron broke a scoreless game with a two-run double in the seventh inning and TCU held on for a 2-1 series-clinching win over New Mexico. With the victory, the Horned Frogs move into a first-place tie with the Lobos atop the conference standings.
Andrew Mitchell turned in a solid performance on the mound as he tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings. He gave up three hits, walked four and struck out nine. Kevin Allen (5-2) earned the win in relief, allowing a run on one hit and walking three in an inning of work. Justin Scharf notched his third save of the season with a 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Mitchell wiggled out of a pair of jams in the first two innings before settling in and matching Gera Sanchez pitch-for-pitch.
In the first inning, the Lobos put together a two-out rally. A walk to DJ Peterson was followed by a base hit by Ryan Padilla that put runners on the corners. Mitchell struck out Josh Melendez looking to end the inning.
New Mexico threatened again in the second as it loaded the bases with two outs. Keaton Jones charged a slow-roller and nipped Ben Woodchick at first to get the final out of the inning to keep the game scoreless.
Both pitchers took control in the middle innings as Mitchell retired 12 of the next 13 batters he faced to get
the game into the seventh inning. Sanchez’s only blemish was a hit batter in the second inning.
Once again, the Lobos put the pressure on the Frogs after a lead-off walk in the seventh. With two outs and a runner standing on third, Allen issued two walks to load the bases. He got out of the jam, getting Peterson to ground out to Witte to end the inning.
The Frogs carried the momentum into the bottom of the inning as they finally broke through with a pair of runs on two hits. Josh Elander was hit to lead off the inning. Jason Coats battled back from an 0-2 count to draw a walk, putting two on with nobody out. Cron stepped to the plate with one out and runners on first and second and came through with a double to right center that gave the Frogs a 2-0 lead.
New Mexico cut the lead in half as it pushed across a run on one hit. A hit batter to open the inning led to trouble as the Lobos loaded the bases with one out. Allen got a ground out to first for out No. 2, but on the play a run scored to make it a 2-1 contest. Scharf took over and got the final out of the inning to preserve the Horned Frog lead.
Scharf pitched around a hit batter in the ninth to lock up the win. With one out, he got Peterson to ground into the game-ending double play.
TCU improves to 29-16 overall and 13-5 in league play. The Frogs will take a week off for finals before hitting the road for four games. First up is a three-game series at Air Force beginning May 11.
