Taylor Makes History As TCU Rolls Past Kansas

Thursday, May 25

Arlington, Texas

4 p.m.

TCU

35-22

Kansas

25-31

Kansas

TCU

Taylor Makes History As TCU Rolls Past Kansas

5/25/2023 9:18:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score

Taylor sets program career home run record

ARLINGTON, Texas – Brayden Taylor made history as TCU picked up its second straight run-rule victory with a 14-4 win over Kansas to advance in the winner's bracket of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship. Taylor hit his 45^th career home run as part of a four-hit game to become TCU's program career record holder.

The Rundown
TCU responded to an early 1-0 deficit with a three spot in the bottom of the first. Brayden Taylor's one out single tied the game. Cole Fontenelle followed with an RBI-triple and scored on an errant throw to make it a 3-1 game.

After Kansas tied the game at three in the top of the third, TCU responded with a pair of two out runs. Taylor's lead-off double set the tone as he scored the go-ahead run on an Anthony Silva base hit. Two batters later, Logan Maxwell drove in another insurance run for a 5-3 lead.

Holding a 5-4 lead after the top of the sixth, TCU exploded for five runs in the bottom of the inning to open up a commanding 10-4 lead. Elijah Nunez drove in the first run of the inning. After an RBI-groundout, Taylor cemented his named in the history books with a two-run shot for a 9-4 lead. Silva collected his second RBI of the day to cap the scoring in the frame.

An Austin Davis sacrifice fly in the seventh gave TCU an 11-4 lead and a three spot in the eighth brought the game to an end. Fontenelle scored on a wild. Silva's RBI single made it a 13-4 game. Maxwell beat out a potential double play ball to drive in Silva for the 14-4 win.

Kole Klecker started and allowed three runs on five hits in three innings. Luke Savage (3-3) earned the win in relief, allowing a run on three hits int 3 1/3 innings. Ben Abeldt recorded the final five outs on the mound for TCU.

Stats of the Game
45 – Brayden Taylor is now TCU's all-time career home run leader with 45. He passes Royce Huffman's career mark of 44 set from 1996-99.

20 – Brayden Taylor became just the fifth player in program to reach the 20 home run mark. He is tied with Evan Skoug (2017) for the fourth-most home runs in a single season.

Notes:
• TCU is now 56-35 all-time in conference tournament contests.
• TCU tallied double-digit hits (19) for 28^th time this season.
• TCU outhit its opponent for the 38^th time this season.
• TCU homered in a game for the 42^nd time this season.
• TCU scored in the first inning for the 25^th time this season.
• Elijah Nunez has reached safely in seven straight games.
• Nunez tallied his 16^th multi-hit game of the season and the 40^th of his career.
• Karson Bowen extended his hitting streak to six games.
• Brayden Taylor hit his 20^th home run of the season and the 45^th of his career.
• Taylor has reached safely in 23 straight contests.
• Taylor recorded his 17^th multi-hit game of the year and the 59^th of his career.
• Taylor tallied his 13^th multi-RBI game of the season and the 41^st of his career.
• Cole Fontenelle has reached safely in 14 straight games.
• Tre Richardson collected his 22^nd multi-hit game of the season and the 57^th of his career.
• Anthony Silva has reached safely in nine straight games.
• Silva tallied his 17^th career multi-hit game and his 13^th career multi-RBI game.
• Kurtis Byrne ran his hitting streak to seven games.
• Byrne tallied his eighth multi-hit game of the year and the 26^th of his career.
• Byrne posted his 10^th multi-RBI game of the season and the 20^th of his career.
• Logan Maxwell posted his sixth multi-hit game of the season and the ninth of his career.
• Maxwell recorded his fifth multi-RBI game of the season and the ninth of his career.

Next Up:
With the win, TCU improves 35-22 overall. The Horned Frogs advance to Saturday's semifinal game against the winner of Friday's Kansas-Kansas State elimination game. The contest will be televised on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. First pitch will be at 9 a.m.