TCU
27-14
Oklahoma
26-15-1
TCU falters at Oklahoma in 11-6 loss
4/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 22, 2008
NORMAN, Okla. - A late push by the TCU Horned Frogs was too little too late as they couldn't recover from an 8-1 deficit in an 11-6 loss to Oklahoma Tuesday night. The loss is just the second in the month of April for the Frogs. Oklahoma held the Frogs in check, limiting them to just five hits in the contest. For TCU, they got home runs from Corey Steglich and Chris Ellington.A two-out rally in the first inning helped the Frogs jump out to an early 1-0 lead. Clint Arnold started things with a base hit up the middle. Back-to-back walks to Chris Ellington and Steve Ellington loaded the bases. Bryan Holaday hit a chopper to third base, but was safe as Trey Sperring overthrew first to plate the Frogs' first run. Steve Ellington was thrown out trying to score on the errant throw.
The lead wouldn't hold as the Sooners responded with a four-run bottom of the inning. The first three batters reached on two walks and a bunt single. TCU starter Paul Gerrish (3-2) got a big strikeout, but Aaron Baker came through with a two-run single up the middle. Spencer Selby and Sperring each tallied RBI singles to put Oklahoma up 4-1.
Oklahoma broke the game open in the second with another four spot. J.T. Wise provided the big blow with a two-out bases clearing double to make it an 8-1 contest.
TCU had opportunities in each of the fourth and fifth innings to get back into the game, but couldn't come up with the key. Both Ellington's walked to open the fourth inning, but Oklahoma starter Antwonie Hubbard retired the next three batters to get out of the jam. A two-out rally in the fifth also went by the wayside as Hubbard got a ground ball to end the inning.
The Sooners took advantage of a two-out walk in the bottom of the fifth to add to their lead. Mike Gosse's double to right field plated two runs, extending Oklahoma's lead to 10-1.
In the seventh inning, the teams traded runs. Corey Steglich hit a one-out home run to make it a 10-2 contest. The home run was his first of the season. In the bottom, a lead-off double eventually scored on a wild pitch. Collin Auten got out of the bases loaded jam with a called strike three on Zach Hedges.
A four-run ninth inning made it a closer game. Matt McGuirk started things with a pinch-hit single. He gave way to pinch-runner Nestor Gonzalez. Ben Carruthers was hit for the second time in the game to put two on with one out. Two wild pitches from Jake McCarter brought home Gonzalez to make it an 11-3 game. Eric Givens walked and Chris Ellington pulled the Frogs closer with a three-run home run to left, but it wouldn't be enough.
Derek VerHagen tossed three innings of relief, allowing two runs on three hits. He walked two and struck out three. Dillon Farish and Taylor Cragin each tossed a scoreless inning for the Frogs as well.
The Frogs fall to 27-14 on the season. They will head west again for another Mountain West Conference series. It will be a key match-up as only one game separates TCU from San Diego State in the standings. Friday's game will feature a match-up of two of the best pitchers in the league as Tyler Lockwood will square off against the Aztecs Stephen Strasburg. Game time is set for 8:35 p.m. (CST).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hubbard, A. (1-0)
L: Gerrish, Paul (3-3)
Batting:
HR: Ellington, Chris 1 ; Steglich, Corey 1
RBI: Ellington, Chris 3 ; Steglich, Corey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Carruthers, Ben 1 ; Arnold, Clint 1 ; Givens, Eric 1 ; Ellington, Chris 1 ; Gonzalez, Nestor 1 ; Steglich, Corey 1
HBP: Carruthers, Ben 2 ; Arnold, Clint 1
Batting:
2B: Gosse, M. 1 ; Wise, J.T. 1 ; Sperring, T. 1
RBI: Gosse, M. 2 ; Baker, A. 3 ; Selby, S. 1 ; Wise, J.T. 3 ; Sperring, T. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Johnson, J. 2 ; Davis, A. 3 ; Gosse, M. 2 ; Harughty, M. 1 ; Baker, A. 1 ; Selby, S. 1 ; Sperring, T. 1
SB: Johnson, J. 1 ; Seng, T. 1
CS: Baker, A. 2
