Morrison Dominates; TCU Tops K-State, 9-0

Saturday, April 11

Manhattan, Kan.

2:00 PM

TCU

26-7, 7-4

Kansas State

15-18, 3-8

TCU

Kansas State

Morrison Dominates; TCU Tops K-State, 9-0

4/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

April 11, 2015

Final Stats | Notes

MANHATTAN, Kan. - A dominating performance on the mound from Preston Morrison and a six-run eighth inning helped No. 2 TCU run away with a 9-0 victory over Kansas State Saturday afternoon. The Horned Frogs' victory evened the Big 12 series at a game apiece.

Morrison (7-1) was back to his typical self as he tossed his second complete-game shutout of the season in helping the Horned Frogs even the series. Kansas State had just six base runners in the game, three of which came in the ninth inning, and had only two in scoring position. Morrison retired the side in five of the nine innings and allowed just four hits, two walks while striking out six in the victory.

TCU got the only run Morrison would need in the first inning. Cody Jones led off the game with a base hit and wasted little time stealing second. He was standing on third with one out when Derek Odell legged out an infield single to give the Frogs an early 1-0 lead.

After twice leaving the bases loaded, TCU finally capitalized in the sixth. Dane Steinhagen led off the frame with a base hit and moved to third on a Garrett Crain double. A walk to Jeremie Fagnan loaded the bases. K-State got a ground ball and erased the run at home, but Elliott Barzilli came through with a sacrifice fly for the all-important 2-0 lead. A bunt single from Odell extended the lead to 3-0.

The Frogs broke the game open with a six-run eighth to make it a 9-0 game. Crain led off the inning with a walk. Back-to-back bunt singles from Fagnan and Cody Jones loaded the bases with nobody out. Barzilli dropped a single into center field to drive in the first run of the inning. Odell collected his third RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly. After an intentional walk to Evan Skoug loaded the bases, a wild pitch allowed another run to score. Nolan Brown cleared the bases with a two-run double and Steinhagen capped the scoring with a base hit to right.

Kansas State didn't go down without a fight. With two outs, the Wildcats got their first runner in scoring position on a Shane Conlon double. A base hit and a walk loaded the bases, but Morrison preserved the shutout with a strikeout to end the game.

With the win, TCU improves to 26-7 overall and 7-4 in Big 12 play. The rubber match of the series is set for Sunday at Noon. Alex Young will toe the rubber for the Horned Frogs in a game that will be televised nationally on FOX College Sports-Pacific.