TCU Holds On; Tops No. 7 Mississippi State, 3-2

Sunday, February 21

Arlington, Texas

11 AM

TCU

1-1

Mississippi State

1-1

TCU

Mississippi State

TCU Holds On; Tops No. 7 Mississippi State, 3-2

2/21/2021 4:35:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Final Stats

Wright records first career save

ARLINGTON, Texas – No. 10 TCU escaped with a 3-2 victory over No. 7 Mississippi State Sunday in the State Farm College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Field. Russell Smith struck out six in the win and freshman Garrett Wright recorded his first career save.

The Rundown
Russell Smith (1-0) was outstanding in his first start of the season. He allowed a run on three hits, walked one and struck out six. Marcelo Perez went three innings, allowing a run on three hits. He struck out a career-high five. Garrett Wright issued a walk to the first batter he faced, but induced a bases-loaded double play to end the game and lock up his first career save.

TCU opened up the scoring in the first, picking up the run without the benefit of a hit. Tommy Sacco drew a one-out walk. After Gene Wood reached on an error, the duo executed a double steal. The throw to third sailed into left, allowing Sacco to score for the early lead.

The Horned Frogs extended their lead with a run in the sixth. Hunter Wolfe led off the inning with a base hit. He was standing on third with one out and scored easily on a ground out by Austin Henry for a 2-0 lead.

Mississippi State pulled within a run on a lead-off solo home run from Rowdey Jordan. A one-out walk put the tying run on, but Perez got an inning-ending double play to squelch the threat.

The Frogs got the run back in the seventh. A walk to Luke Boyers followed by an Elijah Nunez double had two in scoring position with one out. Sacco hit a sac fly to make it 3-1.

The Bulldogs made it interesting in the ninth as four straight batters reached with one out. With the tying run standing on third and only one out, Wright got the game-ending double play.

Stat of the Game:
2 – For the second game in a row, TCU turned a pair of double plays. Each one ended the inning with the potential game-tying run on base.

Notes:
• The TCU pitching staff registered double-digit strikeouts for the second straight game, tallying 11 in the game.
• TCU stole multiple bases in a game for the first time this season.
• TCU drew a season-high seven walks.
• Marcelo Perez struck out a career-high five batters
• Garrett Wright made his collegiate debut in the ninth inning.
• Augie Mihlbauer pitched for the first time since June 2, 2019 against Arkansas after missing the shortened 2020 season with an injury.
• Elijah Nunez collected his first collegiate hit, a double, in the fourth inning.
• Gene Wood stretch his hitting streak to seven games and his reached base streak to eight dating back to 2020.
• Tommy Sacco has reached safely in 15 straight games dating back to last season.

Next Up:
TCU (1-1) will conclude play in the State Farm College Baseball Showdown on Monday night. The Horned Frogs will take on No. 8 Arkansas (1-0) at 6 p.m. The game can be seen live on FloSports.TV.