TCU rallies for 5-2 victory over Utah

Friday, May 2

Fort Worth, Texas

6:30 PM

TCU

31-16, 14-5

Utah

16-22, 5-10

Utah

TCU

TCU rallies for 5-2 victory over Utah

5/2/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

May 2, 2008

Final Stats

FORT WORTH, Texas - Behind a career night from Tyler Lockwood, the TCU Horned Frogs rallied for a 5-2 win over Utah Friday night at Lupton Stadium. Trailing 1-0 heading to the sixth, the Frogs scored five times in their final three at-bats to hold pace in the race for the conference title. Lockwood came one out shy of his fourth complete game and struck out a career-high nine batters.

Utah jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Cody Guymon singled with one out and moved to second on a ground out. A two-out single from Dustin Hennis got the Utes on the board. Lockwood gave up another two-out hit but struck out Cooper Blanc to end the inning.

Lockwood settled into a rhythm as he retired 10-of-11 batters he faced with four strike outs getting the game into the fifth inning.

The Frogs were handcuffed early by a great pitching performance from the Utes Stephen Fife. He allowed just three base runners through the first five innings before a two-out walk in the sixth started the ball rolling for the Frogs.

Chris Ellington worked the two-out free pass and Matt Carpenter drilled a double to right field that tied the game at one. An error on the relay throw allowed Carpenter to move to third and he scored the go-ahead run on an infield single off the bat of Bryan Holaday.

The Frogs added to their one run lead with two more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Hunt Woodruff started the inning with a double down the left field line. He gave way to Brett Medlin, who pinch ran for him. After a walk to Matt Vern, Ben Carruthers was hit by the pitch to load the bases with nobody out. Medlin was cut down at home on a fielder's choice, but another hit-by-pitch, this time to Clint Arnold pushed across the Frogs third run of the game. Chris Ellington delivered a long sacrifice fly to make it a 4-1 contest.

Utah cut the lead in half with a solo home run from Guymon to make it a 4-2 contest.

TCU responded in the bottom of the frame, regaining its three-run cushion. Steve Ellington drew a lead-off walk. Pinch runner Eric Givens moved to second on a Medlin sacrifice bunt and scored on a double down the left field line off the bat of Matt Vern.

Making a bid for his fourth complete game of the season, Lockwood retired the first two batters of the ninth before back-to-back base hits chased him in favor of Andrew Cashner. The closer fanned pinch-hitter Nick Kuoczko to end the game for his sixth save of the season.

Lockwood tossed 8 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits. He didn't walk a batter and fanned nine to improve to 5-1 on the season.

TCU improves to 31-16 overall and 14-5 in league play. The Frogs and the Utes will square off in game two Saturday afternoon at Lupton Stadium. Sean Hoelscher will take the mound for the Frogs against the Utes' Brian Budrow. Game time is set for 2 p.m.