TCU
14-10, 2-2
UNLV
10-12, 2-2
Lockwood guides TCU to 6-2 win at UNLV
3/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 28, 2008
FORT WORTH, Texas - Tyler Lockwood threw a gem for the TCU Horned Frogs as they defeated UNLV 6-2 in the series opener Friday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The Frogs put up a four-spot in the top of seventh inning to break a 1-1 tie and cruised from there. Bryan Kervin and Chris Ellington drove in two runs each as the Frogs picked up their fourth straight victory.Lockwood surrendered two runs (one earned) on eight hits. He struck out seven and didn't walk anybody to improve to 2-0 on the season.
Two errors helped the Frogs take a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. UNLV starter Matt Hutchison quickly retired the first two batters before Clint Arnold singled to right field. The outfielder misplayed the ball allowing Arnold to reach second base. Bryan Holaday hit a one-hopper right to the shortstop who booted the ball, allowing Arnold to score all the way from first.
A TCU error got the game evened up at one as the Rebels made the error hurt. Braden Walker reached on a throwing error to lead off the second and moved to second on a sacrifice. A base hit by Ryan Thornton put runners on the corners and Anthony Morel grounded out to drive in the tying run.
The Frogs dodged a bullet in the fourth inning as the Rebels made a bid to take a 2-1 lead. Walker tripled to right center with one out. Attempting a suicide squeeze, Michael Brenly bunted through the ball and Walker was hung out between third and home. Bryan Kervin did a good job to cover third base in the ensuing rundown and tagged out Walker for the second out of the inning.
Tyler Lockwood found himself in another jam in the bottom of the sixth inning as the first two batters singled. Lockwood bore down and struck out two of the next three hitters, including the Rebels leading hitter, Xavier Scruggs, to get out of the jam and keep it a tie ballgame.
The Frogs used the momentum from getting out of the jam and propelled it into a four-run seventh inning. With one out, Steve Ellington collected his second base hit of the game and Matt Vern worked a full-count walk to put two on. Chris Ellington gave the Frogs a 3-1 lead with a bases-clearing triple to left center. Ben Carruthers followed with a run-scoring single. After he stole second, Kervin drove him in with a double to the wall in left field to give the Frogs a 5-1 lead.
UNLV cut into the Frog lead with a run in the bottom of the seventh, but Lockwood continued to throw strikes and left a runner in scoring position.
TCU tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning. Carruthers singled to lead off the inning and got all the way to third on a wild pitch and balk by Matt Baca. Kervin drove a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Carruthers.
The Frogs improve to 14-10 on the season and 2-2 in conference play. They return to the diamond on Saturday afternoon in game two of the series. Sean Hoelscher will take the mound for the Frogs and face Corey Hales. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. (CST).
Game Notes: • Ben Carruthers extended his hit streak to eight games.
• Tyler Lockwood picked up his first career complete game.
• Head Coach Jim Schlossnagle improves to 9-0 all-time against his former team.
• The four-game winning streak matches the season-high for the Frogs.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lockwood, Tyler (2-0)
L: HUTCHISON, M (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Kervin, Bryan 1
3B: Ellington, Chris 1
RBI: Carruthers, Ben 1 ; Kervin, Bryan 2 ; Ellington, Chris 2
SH: Vern, Matt 1
SF: Kervin, Bryan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Carruthers, Ben 2 ; Arnold, Clint 1 ; Ellington, Steve 1 ; Vern, Matt 1 ; Ellington, Chris 1
SB: Carruthers, Ben 1 ; Arnold, Clint 1
PO: Givens, Eric 1
Batting:
2B: THORNTON, R 1
3B: WALKER, B. 1
RBI: MOREL, A. 1 ; RESNICK, B. 1
SH: BRENLY, M. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WALKER, B. 1 ; THORNTON, R 1
SB: WIGHT, Jesse 1 ; THORNTON, R 1
CS: SFERRA, J.J. 1
HBP: SCRUGGS, X. 1
PO: SFERRA, J.J. 1 ; WALKER, B. 1
