TCU Tops Michigan State 6-2 in Series Finale

Sunday, March 9

Fort Worth, Texas

1:00 PM

TCU

9-6

Michigan State

7-7

Michigan State

TCU

TCU Tops Michigan State 6-2 in Series Finale

3/9/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 9, 2014

Final Stats | Notes

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

Stat Leaders
Pitching	IP	Hits	Runs	ER	BB	K
TCU- Alexander (W, 2-1)	7.0	7	2	2	0	2
MSU - Rihtarchik (L, 0-2)	4.0	7	4	4	1	0
Hitting	AB	R	Hits	RBI	BB	K
TCU - Fagnan	4	1	2	3	0	0
MSU - Fisher	4	1	1	2	0	1

FORT WORTH - Jeremie Fagnan's first home run in a TCU uniform helped the Horned Frogs avoid the sweep as TCU defeated Michigan State 6-2 in the series finale. Fagnan led the offense with two hits and drove in a career-high three runs.

"Considering the situation we put ourselves in the last two weeks, it was an important win," said head coach Jim Schlossnagle. "It was really important to come out of this weekend with a win, especially getting ready to go on the road. You want to have that good feeling when you head out. I have a lot of respect for Michigan State's team. They are really good."

Four TCU pitchers combined to hold the Spartans in check. Only once in the game did Michigan State have more than one runner on base. Tyler Alexander (2-1) matched his season-high with six innings pitched. He allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out two. Trey Teakell retired all five batters he faced and tallied two strikeouts. Travis Evans struck out the only batter he faced. Riley Ferrell closed out the game, striking out the side around a two-out hit.

"I thought he (Alexander) did what he need to do to win, he made pitches when he had to make them," said Schlossnagle. "He's still a good out-pitch away from being an elite pitcher but he certainly threw enough strikes and made pitches when he had to get through a good Michigan State team. His greatest tool is his presence on the mound. He's got great composure. He's mature beyond his years."

TCU opened up a two-run lead in the first inning, pushing across a pair of runs on three hits. Dylan Fitzgerald got things going for the Frogs as he doubled with one out. Kevin Cron just missed a home run as he tripled home Fitzgerald for a 1-0 lead. Derek Odell followed with a sacrifice fly to push the lead to two.

Michigan State fought back to tie the game at two in the top of the fourth. Ryan Krill singled to right with one out and scored on a Joel Fisher home run to make it a 2-2 ball game.

The Frogs bounced right back to regain the lead. Garrett Crain opened the inning with an infield single. On the first pitch of the at-bat, Fagnan lined his first career home run down the right field line to restore TCU's two-run lead, 4-2.

TCU had opportunities to extend its lead but stranded a pair of runners in the fifth and failed to capitalize on back-to-back singles to open the sixth.

In the eighth, TCU finally got the insurance runs it was looking for as the Frogs scored twice on a trio of hits. Boomer White opened the inning with a base hit and promptly stole second. Another infield single from Crain had runners on the corners with nobody out. Fagnan battled through an eight-pitch at-bat, grounding out to the first baseman to make it a 5-2 game. TCU's final run of the game came as Kyle Bacak broke from first in an attempt to draw the throw to second. The Spartans threw down and Bacak stayed in the rundown long enough for Crain to slide across home plate with the sixth run of the contest.

With the win, TCU improves to 9-6 overall. The Frogs will hit the road briefly for a Tuesday night contest at nationally-ranked Rice. Game time at Reckling Park in Houston is set for 6:30 p.m. and will be televised nationally on FOX College Sports.