TCU
6-5
Ole Miss
10-2
TCU rebounds with 5-4 win over #2 Ole Miss
3/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 8, 2008
FORT WORTH, Texas - A dropped ball in center field gave the TCU Horned Frogs a 5-4 victory over #2 Ole Miss in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader at Lupton Stadium. With two outs and a runner on second base, Ben Carruthers laced a ball to deep center field. A misplay on the catch by Michael Hubbard allowed Aaron Schultz to score from second. Bryan Kervin was 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Frogs.Andrew Cashner (3-0) surrendered a one-out walk in the top of the ninth, but Jordan Henry was caught stealing by Bryan Holaday and Logan Power flew out to end the inning, setting up the bottom of the frame.
Chris Ellington worked a four-pitch walk and gave way to Schultz, who pinch ran. Corey Steglich dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Schultz into scoring position. Ole Miss reliever Justin Cryer struck out the next batter and looked like he had retired Carruthers to send the game to extra innings. Hubbard appeared to have the ball deflect off his glove and it dropped in safely and Schultz touched home with the game-winning run.
TCU struck first in the bottom of the first inning, picking up a pair of two-out runs to take the early lead. Bryan Kervin singled with one out, but was erased on a ground ball off the bat of Clint Arnold. Bryan Holaday followed with a double to deep right field that plated Arnold from first. Matt Vern traded places with Holaday at second to make it a 2-0 contest. Right fielder Jordan Henry robbed Matt Carpenter of extra bases with a basket catch to end the inning.
The Rebels got the two runs back in the top of the second, taking advantage of a costly error. Shortstop Evan Button delivered a two-run double that tied the score at two. With Brett Basham at the plate, Button stole third, but TCU starter Steven Maxwell battled, striking out Basham and getting Henry to fly out to left, leaving the runner stranded at third.
The Frogs broke the tie with another two-spot in the bottom of the third. Carruthers was hit by the pitch to lead off the inning and moved to third on a bunt single off the bat of Kervin. Arnold walked to load the bases and Holaday picked up the go-ahead RBI, taking a pitch off the backside. The second run of the game scored when Vern hit into a double play and the Frogs led 4-2 after three.
Maxwell and the Frogs dodge a big bullet in the top of the fourth as the Rebels loaded the bases with no outs. Sean Stuyverson and Brett Basham both struck out and Maxwell got Henry to ground out to Kervin at short to squash the Rebel rally.
TCU had a chance to add to its lead in the sixth inning as the Frogs had a runner at third with one out. Steve Ellington laid down a bunt, but Vern was tagged out trying to score from third, ending the threat.
Maxwell went five innings in the no-decision. He allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits, walked two and fanned six. Trent Appleby worked two scoreless innings before Ole Miss struck for two in the top of the eighth to tie the game at four
Power walked to lead off the inning and moved to second on a base hit from Cody Overbeck. A balk by Appleby moved the runners up 90 feet and a ground ball off the bat of Matt Smith made it a 4-3 game. Michael Guerrero tied the game with a double to left center. Cashner came on and held the Rebels in check to preserve the tie.
Cashner earned the win after pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. He didn't allow a hit and walked just one batter.
The Frogs improve to 6-5 on the campaign. They will go for the series win on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Greg Holle will take the mound for TCU against Ole Miss' Nathan Baker.
Game Notes:
• #2 Ole Miss is the highest ranked opponent that the Frogs have defeated since the 2005 season when the Frogs topped #1 Tulane on May 20.
• Bryan Holaday extended his hit streak to seven games.
• TCU improved to 115-43 all-time at Lupton Stadium.
• 2,335 fans attended Saturday's doubleheader, ranking it ninth in highest attendance in stadium history.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cashner, Andrew (3-0)
L: J. Cryer (1-1)
Batting:
2B: M. Guerrero 1 ; E. Button 1
RBI: M. Smith 1 ; M. Guerrero 1 ; E. Button 2
SH: Z. Miller 1
Base Running:
RUNS: L. Power 1 ; C. Overbeck 1 ; F. Smith 1 ; Z. Miller 1
SB: E. Button 1
CS: Jo. Henry 1
HBP: Z. Miller 1
Batting:
2B: Holaday, Bryan 1 ; Vern, Matt 1
RBI: Holaday, Bryan 2 ; Vern, Matt 1
SH: Carpenter, Matt 1 ; Steglich, Corey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Carruthers, Ben 1 ; Kervin, Bryan 1 ; Arnold, Clint 1 ; Holaday, Bryan 1 ; Schultz, Aaron 1
HBP: Carruthers, Ben 1 ; Holaday, Bryan 1
