TCU Falters Late in 8-7 Loss to Oklahoma

Tuesday, March 17

Fort Worth, Texas

6:30 PM

TCU

11-5

Oklahoma

18-4

Oklahoma

TCU

TCU Falters Late in 8-7 Loss to Oklahoma

3/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 17, 2009

Final Stats

FORT WORTH, Texas - The No. 13 Oklahoma Sooners scored four times in the ninth, erasing a 7-4 deficit to defeat No. 14 TCU 8-7 Tuesday night at Lupton Stadium. Taylor Featherston had an outstanding offensive night for the Frogs, going 5-for-5 at the plate with two doubles and a triple.

A plethora of base running mistakes came back to haunt the Frogs as they saw their 116 game winning streak when leading after eight innings go by the wayside. TCU was picked off three times and caught stealing twice.

The first six Sooners reached base in the ninth and four of them crossed the plate. Aaron Baker was hit by the pitch to drive in the first run of the inning and J.T. Wise drove in the tying runs to make it a 7-7 contest. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Casey Johnson drove in the eventual game-winning run.

The Frogs didn't go down easily as Featherston doubled with one out and moved to third on a long fly ball. Bryan Holaday looked to have tied the game with a rocket to third base, but it was snared just before it hit the ground to end the game.

Oklahoma took the early lead, striking for three runs on four hits in the fourth inning. A wild pitch with the bases loaded drove in the first run of the game and Kaleb Herren drove in two with a single to center for the 3-0 lead. With two on and one out, the Frogs called on Trent Appleby, who fanned the final two batters to get out of the inning.

TCU finally cracked the scoreboard, answering with a run in the bottom of the third. Featherston doubled to left and stole third. A walk to Matt Vern put runners on the corners, but the second pick off of the night erased Vern at first. Michael Rocha uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Featherston to score to make it a 3-1 game.

With one swing of the bat, Matt Carpenter made it a one-run game, 3-2, as he unloaded with his second home run of the season with one out in the third.

A three-run sixth saw the Frogs take their first lead of the game. Again, Featherston got things started, this time with a triple to deep center. He later came home to score on a fielder's choice sacrifice from Holaday. Featherston slid in under the attempted tag to tie the game at three. Two batters later, with the bases loaded, Carpenter gave the Frogs the lead with a two-run double to right.

Oklahoma scratched across a run in the seventh as they took advantage of a lead-off double from Jamie Johnson. Bryant Hernandez drove in with a one-out single. Eric Marshall came on in relief of Appleby and stranded Hernandez at second as he retired the final two batters of the inning.

TCU picked up two runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a three-run lead. Corey Steglich beat out an infield single and moved to second on a Ben Carruthers sacrifice. After an intentional walk to Carpenter, the Frogs executed a double steal to put both runners in scoring position. Matt Curry came up with a big two-out single to drive in both runners as he beat out a close play at first.

Steven Maxwell got the start for the Frogs, allowing three runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings of work. Appleby was solid in relief as he allowed just one run on three hits in three innings of work. He tied a career high with six punch outs. Erik Miller (0-1) took the loss, allowing all four ninth inning runs.

The Frogs (11-5) will open conference play on Friday night as they hit the road for a three-game series at Utah. Friday's series-opener is slated for 4 p.m. (CST).