TCU Rallies To Walk-Off Victory

Wednesday, May 26

Oklahoma City, Okla.

12:30 p.m.

TCU

37-16

Kansas State

31-22

Kansas State

TCU

TCU Rallies To Walk-Off Victory

5/26/2021 6:16:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Sikes drives in game-winning run

OKLAHOMA CITY – Phillip Sikes delivered the walk-off single in the ninth as TCU rallied to defeat Kansas State, 7-6, in its opening game of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship. Zach Humphreys led the offense with a three hit day and three RBIs.

The Rundown
Hunter Wolfe opened the ninth with a double to right. He was stranding on third with one out and scored the game-winning run on a Phillip Sikes base hit up the middle to complete the comeback.

Kansas State built a 4-0 lead in the top of the first on a base hit and a three run home run. TCU cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the frame. Wolfe delivered a double off the wall to drive in Zach Humphreys and Brayden Taylor for a 4-2 ballgame.

The teams traded runs in the second. K-State picked up its fifth run on a two-out single. After drawing a lead-off walk, Tommy Sacco scored on Zach Humphreys' second hit of the day for a 5-3 ballgame.

The Wildcats final run of the game was of the unearned variety in the fourth.

TCU used a two-out rally in the sixth to tie the game at six. With two on, Porter Brown beat out an infield single to drive in Gray Rodgers for a 6-4 ballgame. Humphreys tied the game with a two-run triple.

The TCU bullpen trio of Drew Hill, River Ridings and Garrett Wright (2-1) were outstanding in relief. Hill turned in 4 1/3 innings of relief, allowing just the unearned run on one hit. He struck out four and didn't walk a batter.

After retiring the final two batters in the seventh, Ridings surrendered a lead-off double in the eighth. He rebounded with two strikeouts before giving way to Wright, who fanned the final batter of the frame.

Stat of the Game:
4 – TCU found itself trailing by a 4-0 score after the top of the first. It matches the largest deficit overcome by the Frogs this season and is the seventh multi-run deficit they've faced and come back to win.

Notes:
• TCU improved to 50-32 all-time in conference tournament games and 44-18 under the guidance of head coach Jim Schlossnagle.
• TCU is now 19-10 all-time in the Big 12 tournament.
• TCU improved to 13-11 in conference tournament opening games.
• TCU moved to 4-3 in neutral site games this season.
• The TCU pitching staff tallied double-digit strikeouts for the 24^th time this season.
• TCU recorded double-digit hits for the 30^th time this season.
• TCU stole multiple bases in a game for the 26^th time this season.
• TCU outhit its opponent for the 30^th time this year.
• TCU improved to 16-3 when it scores in the first inning.
• TCU is now 5-5 in one-run games this season.
• Porter Brown registered his 12^th multi-hit game of the season and the 18^th of his career.
• Zach Humphreys has reached safely in 24 straight contests.
• Humphreys tallied his 17^th multi-hit game of the year and the 45^th of his career.
• Humphreys notched his 10^th multi-RBI game of the season and the 34^th of his career.
• Hunter Wolfe collected his 16^th multi-hit game of the year and the 34^th of his career.
• Wolfe registered his 10^th multi-RBI game of the season and the 21^st of his career.
• Tommy Sacco has reached safely in 11 straight games.

Next Up:
With the victory, TCU is now 37-16 on the season. The Horned Frogs will face Texas Tech in the winner's bracket on Thursday afternoon at approximately 4 p.m. Russell Smith will get the start for the Horned Frogs. The game will be televised on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.