Big Ninth Propels TCU To Win

Friday, May 3

Waco, Texas

6:30 p.m.

TCU

27-16, 11-14

Baylor

20-24, 9-13

TCU

Baylor

Big Ninth Propels TCU To Win

5/3/2024 11:09:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Arthur hits grand slam in five-run ninth

WACO, Texas – A five run ninth broke open a close game as TCU took the series opener at Baylor with a 7-1 win Friday night at Baylor Ballpark. Jack Arthur led the offense with two hits, including a grand slam, in the victory.

The Rundown
Payton Tolle (6-3) turned in another quality start in holding Baylor to just one unearned run on three hits. He worked around four walks and struck out eight before turning the game over to the bullpen with two on and one out in the sixth.

The Bears took the early 1-0 lead after a one-out error scored on a two-out base knock. The Frogs tied the game in the fourth on Sam Myers' lead-off home run.

TCU took the lead for good in the fifth. Jack Arthur tripled to deep center and scored on a Ryder Robinson sacrifice fly to make it a 2-1 ballgame.

Baylor had chances to tie the game with two on in the fifth and seventh, but each time the Frogs worked out of the jam. Tolle got a big strikeout for out No. 2 in the fifth with runners on the corners and a fly out to end the inning. In the seventh, Hunter Hodges took over with the tying run at second. He retired the only two he faced.

The Frogs broke the game open with five in the ninth. Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases. With two outs, Karson Bowen worked a walk to make it a 3-1 ballgame. Arthur connected on an 0-1 pitch and deposited it over the center field fence for a 7-1 lead.

Ben Abeldt took over in the eighth and tossed two scoreless to earn his fifth save of the season.

Stat of the Game:
105 - Payton Tolle is the 17th Horned Frog to record 100 strikeouts in a single season and it's the 18th time a Horned Frog has accomplished the feat. He is the first pitcher to reach the century mark since Russell Smith fanned 101 in 2001.

Notes:

TCU out-hit its opponent for the 22nd time this season.
TCU homered in a game for the 18th time this season.
TCU hit multiple home runs in a game for the 10th time this season.
The TCU pitching staff registered double-digit strikeouts (10) for the 27th time this season.
TCU turned two double plays in the game.
Payton Tolle posted his fifth quality start of the season.
Tolle ran his streak of not allowing an earned run to 22 2/3 innings.
Ben Abeldt collected his fifth save of the season and the seventh of his career.
Sam Myers stretched his hitting streak to six games.
Myers connected on his second career home run.
Myers posted his 10th career multi-hit game.
Jack Arthur hit his first career home run and TCU's first grand slam of the season.
Arthur collected his third-career multi-hit game and his second career multi-RBI game.
Arthur, Luke Boyers and Logan Maxwell have reached safely in six straight games.

Next Up:
With the win, TCU improves to 27-16 on the season and 11-14 in Big 12 play. The Horned Frogs and the Bears will face off in Game 2 at a newly-announced time of 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Zack Morris will get the start for the Horned Frogs. The game will be televised on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.