TCU Drops Heartbreaker to No. 5 Cal State Fullerton

Friday, February 20

Fullerton, Calif.

9:00 PM

TCU

0-1

Cal State Fullerton

1-0

TCU

Cal State Fullerton

Jason Coats had two hits including his first career home run.

TCU Drops Heartbreaker to No. 5 Cal State Fullerton

2/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 21, 2009

Final Stats

FULLERTON, Calif - The No. 32 TCU Horned Frogs battled back with two in the top of the ninth to tie the game at six, but it wasn't to be as No. 5 Cal State Fullerton scored in the bottom of the frame to claim the 7-6 walk-off win. Jason Coats and Taylor Featherston each homered in their collegiate debuts and both finished with two hits to lead the Frog offense. Ben Carruthers tallied three RBIs in the loss.

Trailing 6-4 heading to the top of the ninth inning, the Frogs staged a furious comeback as they pushed across two runs to tie the game at six. Bryan Holaday worked a lead-off walk and Featherston took a pitch off the shoulder to put two on with nobody out. Corey Steglich grounded out to move both runners up 90 feet and Carruthers drilled a double off the fence to tie the game at six. TCU went on to load the bases in the inning, but couldn't find the go-ahead run.

As was the theme of the night, the Titans found the answer in the bottom of the inning. Eric Marshall (0-1) hit the lead-off batter and followed with a wild pitch. The Frogs intentionally walked Jared Clark to set up the double play. The lead runner was erased on a bunt attempt, but pinch-hitter Tyler Pill drove a double to center field to send in the game-winning run.

As advertised, Tyler Lockwood and Daniel Renken were locked in a pitcher's duel from the first pitch. Both bent, but didn't break as they kept their respective opponents off the scoreboard.

TCU final broke through with the game's first run of the game in the top of the fourth inning. Freshman Jason Coats unloaded on a 2-0 offering and drove it off the scoreboard in left center field for his first career home run to give TCU a 1-0 lead.

The Titans answered in the bottom of the inning, scoring a run on two hits. Clark led off the inning with a base hit, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a base knock by Nick Ramirez.

The Frogs found an answer in the form of another freshman bat. Taylor Featherston connected on a 1-2 offering for his first career home run, a towering shot over the left field fence.

Again Fullerton found a way to answer, scratching across a run of its own in the bottom of the frame. Joe Scott worked a one-out walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. A base hit by Gary Brown put runners on the corners and Jeff Newman sacrificed home the tying run.

After a scoreless sixth inning, the Horned Frogs regained the lead, pushing across two runs on three hits to open up a 4-2 lead. Bryan Holaday led off the inning with a base hit. Featherston battled through an eight-pitch at-bat, lacing a single to right field to put runners on the corners with nobody out. Corey Steglich greeted the new Titan pitcher with a first-pitch base hit to center that put the Frogs back on top. Carruthers followed with a sacrifice fly to left field for the two-run lead.

A costly error in the bottom of the seventh led to a big inning by the Titans as they took their first lead of the game. The first three batters reached, one on a throwing error following a sacrifice attempt, making it a 4-3 contest. Brown delivered a sacrifice fly to tie the game and Colon drove in two with a base hit up the middle to give Fullerton a 6-4 lead.

Lockwood got a no-decision as he allowed two runs on seven hits in five innings of work. The junior walked one, hit two and struck out two.

The Horned Frogs (0-1) return to the diamond Saturday night for game two of the series. Game time is set for 8 p.m. (CST). Sean Hoelscher is the scheduled starter for TCU.