TCU Wins Epic Comeback, 16-10
After blowing a six run lead last night to the Houston Cougars, the TCU Horned Frogs found a comeback of their own, overcoming a seven-run deficit, defeating the Cougars 16-10.
The first inning saw offensive success as Aaron Schultz doubled and moved to third on groundout by Taylor Featherston. After Jason Coats was hit by a pitch and Jantzen Witte walked, Jerome Pena was issued a base-on-balls to walk in Schultz and give TCU a 1-0 lead.
Houston responded in the second with a M.P. Cokinos solo shot to center that tied the game at one.
TCU would gain the lead again in the second when Brance Rivera was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a steal. An throwing error by Houston’s third baseman would send Rivera to the plate as the Frogs regained a 2-1 lead.
In the fourth, the Cougars began to find their way to the plate. After two errors and a single loaded the bases, Matt Purke would hit Landon Appling, walk Caleb Ramsey and give up a sacrifice fly to Chase Jensen, giving Houston a 4-2 lead.
In the fifth, following a Cokinos single, Trent Appleby would come in to relieve Matt Purke. Jake Runte would be hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. A Travis Trial single brought in a run to make the game 5-2.
Ryan Still loaded the bases with a single. Featherston bobbled a groundball in his glove, allowing Houston to score and make the game 6-2. Ramsey grounded out to score a runner and Jensen singled to bring in two, putting Houston up 9-2.
TCU would start a comeback in the bottom of the fifth with a Rivera home run, but a possible rally would be prevented when Coats hit into a double play.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Frogs ignited their offensive fire and found their way to another lead.
Witte started the inning with a double off left field wall. Pena followed suit, scoring Witte and whittling Houston’s lead to five.
Jordan Mannisto would come in to relieve, but his efforts were of little prevail. Joe Weik doubled down the third base line to score Pena and make the game 9-5 Houston. Following a Jimmie Pharr sac fly, Zac Jordan hit a 2-run homer to make the game 9-7 Frogs. Following singles by Rivera and Schultz, and a Featherston hit-by-pitch, the bags were loaded for Coats. He came through, singling down the left field line to clear the bases, giving TCU a 10-9 lead.
Matt Creel came in at pitcher for Houston and finished off the inning without allowing any runs, but the Frogs wouldn’t wait to get a second chance on him.
In the bottom of the seventh, Joe Weik reached first on an error by Chase Jensen and Jordan doubled off the left field wall to put both of them in scoring position. Rivera hit a single to score both and put TCU up 12-9.
Things wouldn’t be perfect for the Horned Frogs, however, as in the eighth, with runners on first and second for Houston, Featherston made an errant throw that botched a double play and put runners on first and third. Cokinos singled to score Jensen and cut TCU’s lead to two. Featherston would redeem himself on the next play, as John Cannon grounded out to Featherston for a 6-4-3 double play.
In the eighth, Coats made his way to second as Jake Runte misplayed a flyball to left. Witte scored Coats on a hit-and-run single to center and turn the game into a 13-10 contest. Passed ball takes Witte to second. Jerome Pena walks. Successful double steal. Weik scores Witte on an error by David Murphy. Pharr would load up the bases when Runte would miss his second flyball in left. Dustin Fuerst came in to pitch, but Jordan would tag a sacrifice fly to right to move Weik to third and score Pena, giving TCU a 15-10 advantage. Rivera would keep up his tear as he doubled to right, scoring Jordan and making the game 16-10.
That would be all that TCU needed as the Horned Frogs go on to win an epic comeback, 16-10.
Other Notes: Matt Purke went 4+ innings, giving up four hits and five runs… Six batters were hit in the entire game… Three for both TCU and Houston… Brance Rivera extended his hitting streak to 22 games… Taylor Featherston committed three errors…He leads the team with 9 errors… TCU and Houston combined for ten errors on the game… Attendance was 4,734…
* Game quotes from Coach Jim Schlossnagle, Trent Appleby, Brance Rivera and Jason Coats will be on SportDFW later tonight.
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