TCU Escapes With Victory Over Houston

Friday, March 1

Minute Maid Park (Houston, Texas)

3 p.m.

TCU

6-2

Houston

4-4

Houston

TCU

TCU Escapes With Victory Over Houston

3/1/2019 7:59:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Lodolo fans 13 in the victory

HOUSTON -- Nick Lodolo tied his career high with 13 strikeouts as TCU held on for a 10-6 victory over Houston in its opening game of the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic at Minute Maid Park. Alex Isola and Andrew Keefer each homered in the win for the Horned Frogs.

The Rundown
Nick Lodolo (1-2) was impressive over the course of his seven innings. The junior retired the first 14 batters he faced and never saw more than four batters in an inning. The lone blemish on his line was a solo home run to lead off the seventh. In total, he had just three baserunners on two hits and a walk.

The TCU offense provided plenty of run support. The Frogs jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first. Josh Watson and Jake Guenther singled ahead of a long home run to left center off the bat of Alex Isola.

Another three-run blast, this one from Andrew Keefer pushed the Frogs lead to 6-0 after four innings.

After Houston got on the board in the top of the seventh, TCU responded with another three-spot in the bottom of the frame. Austin Henry tripled and scored on a Jake Guenther base hit. With the bases loaded, Keefer lined a single to left for his fourth RBI of the game. Conner Shepherd hit a sacrifice fly to account for the final run of the frame.

Houston picked up a pair of runs in the eighth, but again, the Frogs answered with a run in the bottom of the inning. Johnny Rizer hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to bring home Henry for a 10-3 lead.

The Cougars didn't go quietly as they mounted a two-out rally in the ninth that saw the tying run come to the plate. Two bases-loaded walks and an error drove in three runs. Johnny Rizer made a leaping catch at the wall in left center to bring the game to a close, locking up Charles King's first save of the year.

Stat of the Game:
13 – Nick Lodolo tied his career-high with 13 strikeouts in the game. He retired the first 14 batters he faced and allowed just three total baserunners. Lodolo has 23 strikeouts in his last 14 innings pitched.

Notes:
• TCU has won eight straight games in the Shriners Hospitals for Children's College Classic.
• TCU improved to 15-7 all-time in the College Classic.
• TCU pitchers recorded double-digit strikeouts for the fourth time this season.
• TCU collected double-digit hits for the fifth time this season.
• TCU homered for the fifth game in a row.
• TCU hit multiple home runs in a game for the third time this season.
• TCU scored multiple runs in an inning three times in the game.
• TCU stole multiple bases in a game for the sixth time this season.
• Zach Humphreys made his first career start at third base.
• Johnny Rizer has reached base safely in 20 straight games dating back to last season.
• Jake Guenther and Josh Watson have reached base safely in all eight games.
• Guenther tallied his fourth multi-hit game of the season.
• Alex Isola hit his third home run of the season.
• Isola tallied his third multi-RBI game and his first multi-hit game of the season.
• Andrew Keefer hit his first home run of the season.
• Keefer picked up his first multi-hit and multi-RBI game of the season.
• Charles King recorded his third career save.

Next Up:
With the victory, TCU improves to 6-2 on the season. The Frogs will continue play in the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic on Saturday night against No. 23 Texas A&M. Brandon Williamson will get the start for the Horned Frogs.