TCU
25-13, 10-4
BYU
15-23, 5-6
Hot bats carry TCU to 13-4 win at BYU
4/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 18, 2008
PROVO, Utah - The TCU Horned Frogs erased an early 3-0 deficit with a six-run second inning and cruised to the 13-4 victory over BYU at Larry H. Miller Field Friday night. The victory ensures the Frogs the series win as they continue their hot play in the month of April. It was another offensive explosion for TCU as they scored 13 times on 15 hits. Clint Arnold drove in a game-high four runs on three hits. Matt Vern also homered for the Frogs.BYU jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning as four straight batters reached base with only one out. Dan Vargas singled in the first run and Kasey Ko doubled home two to make it 3-0. TCU starter Sean Hoelscher settled down and retired the final two batters of the inning.
Ten men went to the plate for the Frogs in the top of the second inning as they pushed across six runs to take a lead they would never relinquish. Bryan Holaday walked to lead off the inning and Matt Carpenter was hit by the pitch to put two on with nobody out. Hunt Woodruff singled to load the bases and Bryan Kervin reached on a fielder's choice to drive in the first run.
Matt Vern made it a one-run game with an RBI single to left. A Ben Carruthers base hit reloaded the bases for TCU and Steve Ellington gave the Frogs the lead with a two-run single through the right side. Arnold drove in his first run of the game with a sacrifice fly and Chris Ellington doubled home the sixth run of the inning.
BYU scratched across another run in the bottom of the second to pull within two, 6-4. After the first two batters reached base, Kent Walton sacrificed them both into scoring position. Sean McNaughton hit into a fielder's choice that drove in the run. The Cougars loaded the bases with two outs, but Hoelscher struck out Ko to end the inning.
After a scoreless third inning, the Frogs extended their lead in the fourth inning on a Cougar error. With two outs, Arnold singled to start the rally. Chris Ellington followed with a base hit and the duo executed a double steal. J.T. Musso's throw to second sailed into center field, allowing Arnold to score to make it a 7-4 game.
Hoelscher (4-2) did an excellent job settling into the ballgame. After a one-out walk and hit-by-pitch in the fourth, he retired eight of the last nine batters he face, with the lone batter reaching on a Frog error. He went six innings, allowing four runs on five hits. He walked three and struck out four in the victory.
TCU, meanwhile, continued to pour on the offense. Matt Vern launched a two-run shot in the fourth inning to end Jake Wortham's evening. Another run crossed the plate in the sixth on a double play ball as the Frogs took a 10-4 lead.
The Frogs wrapped up their scoring in the seventh with another three-spot. Hunt Woodruff walked to open the inning. After two quick outs, Carruthers singled to keep the inning alive. Steve Ellington walked to load the bases and Arnold cleared them with a double off the wall in left center.
Trent Appleby pitched two scoreless innings for TCU, allowing just one base hit. Taylor Cragin closed out the game with a scoreless ninth. He surrendered a lead-off single the retired the final three, striking out Ko to end the game.
TCU improves to 25-13 overall and 10-4 in conference play. They will go for the series sweep Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. Greg Holle will take the mound for TCU.
Game Notes:
• The Frogs improve to 11-1 in the month of April.
• TCU has won five straight conference games.
• Chris Ellington has four doubles in the series so far.
• TCU has outscored 29-9 in the series so far.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hoelscher, Sean (4-3)
L: WORTHAM (2-3)
Batting:
2B: Arnold, Clint 1 ; Ellington, Chris 1
HR: Vern, Matt 1
RBI: Ellington, Steve 2 ; Arnold, Clint 4 ; Ellington, Chris 1 ; Kervin, Bryan 1 ; Vern, Matt 3
SF: Arnold, Clint 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Carruthers, Ben 2 ; Ellington, Steve 2 ; Arnold, Clint 2 ; Holaday, Bryan 1 ; Carpenter, Matt 1 ; Medlin, Brett 1 ; Kervin, Bryan 2 ; Vern, Matt 2
SB: Arnold, Clint 1 ; Ellington, Chris 1
HBP: Carpenter, Matt 1
Batting:
2B: MCNAUGHTON 1 ; KO 1
RBI: MCNAUGHTON 1 ; VARGAS 1 ; KO 2
SH: WALTON 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MCNAUGHTON 1 ; PARKER 1 ; VARGAS 1 ; MUSSO 1
SB: MCNAUGHTON 2 ; CLUFF 1
HBP: PARKER 1 ; VARGAS 1 ; LAW 1
