TCU Suffers Heartbreaking Loss Friday

Friday, March 7

Fort Worth, Texas

6:30 PM

TCU

8-5

Michigan State

6-6

Michigan State

TCU

TCU Suffers Heartbreaking Loss Friday

3/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 7, 2014

Final Stats | Notes

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	F
Michigan St.	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2
TCU	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1

Stat Leaders
Pitching	IP	Hits	Runs	ER	BB	K
MSU - Vieaux (W, 1-1)	1.1	1	0	0	1	0
TCU - Finnegan (L, 2-2)	9.0	4	2	2	1	12
MSU - Lowery (S, 2)	1.0	1	0	0	0	0
Hitting	AB	R	Hits	RBI	BB	K
TCU - Crain	4	0	3	0	0	0
MSU - Salter	4	1	1	2	0	2

FORT WORTH - Michigan State's Blaise Salter hit a two-out, two-run home run to help the Spartans steal a 2-1 victory over No. 21 TCU Friday night at Lupton Stadium.

"Obviously a great ballgame," said head coach Jim Schlossnagle. "This sport will, as much as you feel great about it and love it on Tuesday night winning an extra-inning game, it's brutal sometimes. I actually felt really good about our at-bats tonight. It was a tough night to hit with the wind the way it is. We had a lot of good at-bats against their guy and Finnegan was outstanding. You've got to give Michigan State credit for staying in the game. I'm proud of my team. The guys played hard, it's just a tough one."

With TCU clinging to a 1-0 lead heading into the ninth inning, a one-out walk to Cam Gibson opened the door for Michigan State. Brandon Finnegan (2-2) battled back to retire Anthony Cheky for the second out, but fell behind 3-1 in the count to Salter who hit what proved to be the game-winning home run over the left field fence for a 2-1 lead.

The Horned Frogs had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth after a one-out double from Garrett Crain. He was standing on third with two outs when Cody Jones lined out sharply to the center fielder to end the game.

For Finnegan, it was his third career complete game, but the first of the nine-inning variety. He allowed just four hits, one walk and struck out 12 in the loss.

Michigan State's Justin Alleman battled Finnegan pitch-for-pitch as the pitcher's duel quickly moved into the sixth inning. Alleman had a base runner in each of the first five innings, but never allowed a runner to third base. Finnegan allowed just four base runners through the first eight innings.

TCU dodged a bullet in the top of the sixth as Gibson reached on a three-base error with one out. Finnegan got a tapper back to the mound and was able to get Gibson in a run down, eventually tagging him out before the runner made it back to third. Kyle Bacak ended the inning with a back-pick at first base to keep the game scoreless.

The Horned Frogs broke the scoreless tie in the sixth inning thanks to a costly Spartan error. Boomer White led off the inning with a double to left field. A ground out to the right side by Derek Odell had White standing on third with one out. Kevin Cron struck out, but made it to first safely on an errant throw by the catcher. Connor Castellano beat out a fielder's choice allowing White to score the go-ahead run.

TCU falls to 8-5 on the season. Game two of the three game series is set for Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. Preston Morrison will make his fourth start of the season and face the Spartans' Mick VanVossen.