Frogs offense explodes in 10-2 win over New Mexico

Thursday, March 20

Fort Worth, Texas

6:30 PM

TCU

10-8, 1-0

New Mexico

11-9, 1-3

New Mexico

TCU

Frogs offense explodes in 10-2 win over New Mexico

3/20/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 20, 2008

Final Stats

FORT WORTH, Texas - The TCU Horned Frogs got off to a good start in conference play Thursday night with a convincing 10-2 win over New Mexico at Lupton Stadium. The Frogs made the most of their opportunities scoring 10 runs on 15 hits. A four-run third inning erased an early deficit. Bryan Holaday was the offensive star with a 3-for-4 day at the plate and two runs driven in. Tyler Lockwood earned his first win of the season with seven strong innings pitched.

The Frogs erased a 1-0 lead with a four-run third inning. Matt Vern got the inning started with a double to left. Jimmie Pharr worked a walk and Corey Steglich reached on a bunt single to load the bases with nobody out. A wild pitch from Lobo starter Will Kerr (0-1) tied the game at one. After a fielder's choice put runners on the corner, Ben Carruthers stole second to put two in scoring position. Bryan Kervin delivered a two-run single to give the Frogs a lead they would never relinquish. Bryan Holaday rounded out the scoring with an RBI single up the middle to give TCU a 4-1 lead after three.

TCU added to its lead in the fifth inning, picking up two more runs to extend their lead to 6-1. Carruthers led off the inning with an infield single and moved to second on a passed ball by Lobo catcher Rafael Neda. Clint Arnold doubled to right field to bring Carruthers home and Holaday followed with his second base hit of the night to drive in Arnold.

Making his first start of the season, Tyler Lockwood was brilliant. He surrendered a first inning run on a Neda double down the left field, but settled into a rhythm, retiring the final two batters in the inning.

In the second, Lockwood worked around a two-out hit and a hit-by-pitch freezing Bobby Moore at the plate for the final out. That started a string of 13-of-15 retired by the sophomore to get the Frogs to the seventh inning.

Meanwhile, the Horned Frogs continued to add on to their lead, scoring twice each in the sixth and seventh innings to build a 10-2 lead. In the sixth, Matt Vern worked a one-out walk and advanced to third on a wild pitch and passed ball. Jimmie Pharr connected for a line-drive double to left center for his first career RBI and scored on a Carruthers base hit to left.

New Mexico tried to get something going in the top of the seventh inning as they had a run in and two in scoring position with nobody out. Adam Courcha singled to lead off the inning and Scott Gracey reached on an error. Mike Brownstein doubled to right, plating Courcha with the Lobos second run of the game. Moore flied out to center field and Arnold unleashed a strike to home plate cutting down Gracey at the plate to complete the double play. Lockwood froze Matt Hibbits at the plate to end the inning.

Arnold reached on a bunt single to lead off the seventh inning, sparking another Frog rally. Back-to-back singles from Matt Carpenter and Steve Ellington brought home Arnold and Holaday scored on a long sacrifice fly off the bat of Vern.

Lockwood picked up his first win of the season with a solid performance on the mound. He went seven innings, allowing two runs on seven hits. The righty struck out four and didn't walk a batter. Seth Garrison finished the game in relief, pitching two scoreless innings. He surrendered just one hit and struck out two.

TCU improves to 10-8 on the season and 1-0 in conference play. The Frogs and the Lobos will square off in game two of the three game series Friday night at 6:30 p.m. Greg Holle will get the start for the Frogs and face the Lobos' Jacob Norton.

Game Notes:
• Steve Ellington extended his hit streak to six games with an RBI single in the seventh.
• The 15 hits were a season high for the Frogs in 2008.
• The Frogs improve to 38-8 all-time in the Mountain West.
• TCU has won 75 straight contests when leading after eight.