TCU
Utah*
TCU Rallies For 10-5 Victory
5/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 8, 2009
FORT WORTH, Texas - A six-run seventh inning broke a 4-4 tie as the No. 15 TCU Horned Frogs tallied their 10th straight home victory with a 10-5 win over Utah Friday night. Matt Vern was the offensive star with three hits, including his 11th home run of the season and three runs driven in. TCU improved its conference record to 11-4.Utah had the first chance to crack the scoreboard following a lead-off single by Tyler Yagi in the fourth inning. Yagi made it to third with only one out. Matt Carpenter made a great pick up at third on a bouncer off the bat of C.J. Cron and threw Yagi out at home.
The Frogs translated the momentum into a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning. Vern connected for his 11th home run of the season, sending the ball sailing over the center field fence for the early lead.
Utah would respond in the top of the fifth, scoring four runs on five hits. Yagi delivered the big hit in the inning, a two-run two-out double that gave the Utes a 3-1 lead. Cron added to the Utah lead with an RBI single up the middle to make it a 4-1 contest.
With two-outs in the bottom of the inning, the Frogs scratched across three runs to tie the game at four. The Frogs loaded the bases for Vern who came through with a two-run single to shallow right center field. Bryan Holaday followed with a base hit to right that scored Chris Ellington, tying the game.
The Frogs broke through in the seventh, scoring six runs on five hits to take a commanding 10-4 lead. Five of the six runs came with two outs in the inning. Carpenter worked a lead-off walk and moved to second on a Brian Budrow wild pitch. Ellington doubled to give the Frogs the lead.
Greg Krause came on and quickly got two outs before the Frog bats came alive. Matt Curry drove in Ellington and Aaron Schultz collected a check-swing RBI single to center to give the Frogs a 7-4 lead. Corey Steglich joined the hit party with an RBI single to right. After Taylor Featherston was hit by a pitch, Matt Carpenter capped the scoring with a two-run single.
Utah picked up a run in the ninth inning to account for the final score.
Paul Gerrish started for the Frogs, allowing four runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. Tyler Lockwood pitched two scoreless frames and Trent Appleby retired the lone man he faced to improve to 3-0 on the season. Kaleb Merck tossed a scoreless eighth inning, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one. Greg Holle closed out the game in the ninth.
TCU improves to 30-13 overall and 11-4 in conference play. The Frogs will honor the seven seniors prior to the start of Saturday night's contest. First pitch against the Utes is set for 6:30 p.m. Steven Maxwell will toe the rubber for the Frogs.
