TCU
Nevada
Baseball Drops Nevada 12-7
4/5/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
RENO, Nev. -- TCU hit four home runs Thursday afternoon to defeat Nevada, 12-7, in the first of a four-game Western Athletic Conference series. The Frogs, which saw their four-game losing streak come to an end, improve to 21-13 overall, 12-5 in WAC play. Nevada drops to 18-15 overall, 9-9 in WAC action.
The game was delayed 45 minutes due to the TCU luggage not arriving on the same plane as the Frogs. The luggage was placed on a different flight than the team, prompting the delay.
Luckily for TCU, the bats finally arrived. Due to the third game of the earlier meeting between the two teams being rained out, the Frogs served as the home team. After retiring the Wolf Pack in order in the first, TCU sent eight men to the plate in the bottom half of the inning, scoring four runs, including two on a home run by Jason Price.
The biggest home run of the game came off the bat of leadoff hitter Terry Trofholz, who homered with runners at first and second in the bottom of the eighth. The three-run shot extended TCU's lead from 8-7 to 11-7. Erick Macha added a solo home run in the 8th to increase the lead to five runs.
After TCU had taken a 4-0 lead, the Wolf Pack rallied for one run in the second and three in the third to tie the game at 4-4. After TCU had built the lead back to 8-5, Nevada rallied for two more runs to close the gap to one run. The Wolf Pack had plenty of chances in the game as they left 13 men on base, including at least two in the second, third, fourth, sixth and ninth innings.
Patrick Newburn, in his first start of the year, earned his second win. Newburn allowed five runs on eight hits and four walks in five innings. Josh Gardner pitched 1.2 innings, allowing two runs on five hits. Stan Newton recorded his third save of the year, pitching the final 2.1 innings. Newton gave up four hits and struck out three to close the game.
Six different Frogs had at least two hits in the game, including three by Jason Price and two each by Trofholz, Rudy Rivera, Macha, Tom Bates and Mike Settle. Walter Olmstead had one hit, a solo home run in the fifth.
Nevada starter James Holcomb suffered the loss. Holcomb allowed eight runs on 11 hits in 6.1 innings. The second game of the series will be held Friday afternoon with first-pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. central time.
Game Linescore 123 456 789 R-H-ENevada 013 011 100 7-17-1TCU 403 010 04x 12-16-0James Holcomb, Lee Hafen (7), John Teepe (8) and Christian Popoff. PatrickNewburn, Josh Gardner (6), Stan Newton (7) and Jason Price. Winning Pitcher- Newburn (2-0). Losing pitcher - Holcomb (1-4). Save - Newton (3).2B - Nevada - McIntyre, Dickerson. TCU - Trofholz, Bates, Settle. 3B - Nevada - Hass.HR - Nevada - Rangel. TCU - Trofholz (2), Macha (4), Olmstead (6), Price(4).Time: 2:49. Attn: 662.
