No. 5 TCU Walks Off USC In 11 Innings

Friday, March 1

Arlington, Texas

2 p.m.

TCU

10-0

USC (Globe Life Field)

2-7

USC

TCU

No. 5 TCU Walks Off USC In 11 Innings

3/1/2024 8:23:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Myers delivers the game-winning base hit

ARLINGTON, Texas – No. 5 TCU stayed undefeated on the season with a 9-8, 11-inning, walk-off victory over USC Friday evening at Globe Life Field. Sam Myers delivered the game-winning hit to give TCU its second extra-inning win in the last three games.

The Rundown
Chase Brunson was hit by a pitch to open the 11th and was standing on second with one out. Sam Myers lined a base hit into right and Brunson beat the throw home, sliding across the plate with the game-winning run.

Kyle Ayers (1-0) took over in the 10th and tossed two scoreless to give the Horned Frogs the chance at the walk-off win. He allowed two hits and fanned five to earn the win.

It was a see-saw affair from start to finish as each team would grab a lead only to see it slip away. TCU carried a 6-5 lead into the ninth, but three walks, two hit batters and a wild pitch turned the lead into an 8-6 lead for USC.

The Frogs wasted little time tying the game at eight in the bottom of the ninth. Payton Tolle walked to lead-off the inning. A throwing error had the tying runs in scoring position with nobody out. Brunson's infield single pulled the Frogs within one and Ryder Robinson tied the game with a base hit to right.

USC opened up a 2-0 lead with a run in the second and third. TCU cut the deficit in half on an Anthony Silva sacrifice fly in the third. The Frogs took a 3-2 lead in the fourth. Robinson doubled home the tying run and scored on a Peyton Chatagnier base hit.

After falling behind again, 5-3, TCU had an answer with three in the bottom of the sixth. Myers doubled home the tying runs and subsequently scored the go-ahead run on a bases-loaded walk to Tolle, setting up the wild finish.

Tolle started for the Frogs and allowed three runs on four hits in 4 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out a career-high eight. Caedmon Parker was touched for two unearned runs. He fanned four in 2 2/3 innings. Louis Rodriguez pitched a scoreless eighth.

Stat of the Game:
19 - For the second time in as many games, the TCU pitching staff racked up 19 strikeouts. It's the sixth time this season the Horned Frogs have fanned double-digits.

Notes:
·       TCU's 10-0 start to the season is its best start to a season since the 1985 campaign.
·       It's just the second time in program history the Horned Frogs have opened the season 10-0 (1985). The 1985 squad opened the season 11-0.
·       The walk-off win was the third of the season for the Horned Frogs.
·       TCU improved to 13-5 all-time at Globe Life Field.
·       TCU played its second extra-inning game of the season.
·       TCU improved to 6-1 in extra-inning games with Kirk Saarloos as head coach.
·       TCU improved to 5-0 in one-run games this season.
·       TCU allowed the first run of the game for just the third time this season.
·       TCU reached double figures in hits (13) for the seventh time this season.
·       Peyton Chatagnier and Kurtis Byrne have reached safely in all 10 games this season.
·       Sam Myers and Chase Brunson stretched their hitting streaks to five games.
·       Sam Myers registered his third career multi-hit game and his third career multi-RBI game.
·       Logan Maxwell extended his hitting streak to 11 games dating back to last season.
·       Maxwell tallied his fourth multi-hit game of the year and the 13th of his career.
·       Chase Brunson collected his third career multi-hit game.
·       Ryder Robinson tallied his second career multi-hit game and his first career multi-RBI contest.

Next Up:
With the win, TCU improves to 10-0 on the season. TCU will continue play in the Kubota College Classic at Globe Life Field on Saturday night. The Horned Frogs will take on Arizona State at 6 p.m. Kole Klecker will get the start for TCU. The entire Classic will be streamed on FloSports.TV.