Baseball: Extra-inning win clinches TCU’s Big 12 series victory over Utah

The Horned Frogs will be the No. 3 seed in the upcoming conference tournament.

TCU baseball will be the No. 3 seed in the Big 12 Conference tournament after clinching its series against Utah with an extra-inning victory on Saturday. The Horned Frogs, who finish with a 37-17 regular season record and a 19-11 record in conference play, took the series lead after tallying nine runs in the top of the ninth inning on Thursday evening. After a loss to the Utes on Friday, TCU outlasted Utah in 11 frames and sealed its series win on Saturday. The Horned Frogs, who will receive a first-round bye in the conference tournament, will face either No. 6 seed Kansas State or No. 11 seed Houston in the second round on Thursday.

Thursday: TCU 13, Utah 5

The Horned Frogs collected 15 hits during their series opener against the Utah, who also totaled 15 hits but stranded seven runners on base and struck out six times. TCU broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the third inning, where Sawyer Strosnider blasted a solo home run and Chase Brunson smacked an RBI single into left field. Utah earned one run back on an error in the bottom of the third inning before taking a 5-4 lead with back-to-back run-scoring hits against TCU starter Tommy LaPour in the bottom of the fifth inning. It was a rare off outing for LaPour, who allowed 10 hits and surrendered five runs over four and one-third innings.

Louis Rodriguez entered in relief and kept the Horned Frogs in the game, holding the Utes to three hits over three and two-thirds innings without allowing a run. Rodriguez, who moved to 4-1 on the season with the victory, helped TCU remain within one run entering the top of the ninth inning, where a bases-loaded, two-run single from Cole Cramer gave the Horned Frogs the lead. Noah Franco followed with an RBI double to deep left center and Cole Eaton continued the rally with a two-run single. A bases-loaded walk to Jack Bell and a two-run single from Karson Bowen broke the game open, as TCU took an eight-run lead.

Kole Klecker threw the final frame for the Horned Frogs, working around two hits to record a scoreless ninth inning. Franco went 3 for 5 with two RBIs, while Bowen and Cramer each finished with two hits and two RBIs in the win. TCU drew eight walks in the series opener.

Friday: Utah 8, TCU 6

The Utes blew the game wide open with seven runs in the bottom of the first inning. TCU fought back over the second and third frames, however, scoring four runs to bring Utah within three. RBI singles from Anthony Silva and Cole Cramer helped spark the Horned Frog offense, which tacked on two more runs after Noah Franco belted a home run in the top of the seventh inning to make it a one-run game. An RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning provided much-needed insurance for the Utes, who posted scoreless eighth and ninth frames to even the series against the Horned Frogs, who finished with nine hits.

Caedmon Parker earned the start but struggled on the mound, allowing six hits and seven runs in just one-third of an inning. Mason Bixby and Braeden Sloan shouldered most of the load in relief, but the two pitchers combined to hold Utah to one run over seven innings while striking out eight batters. Nolan Traeger went 3 for 4 at the plate, while Cramer went 2 for 3 and Franco recorded three RBIs to lead the TCU offense in the loss on Friday.

Saturday: TCU 8, Utah 6 (11)

The Horned Frogs concluded their regular season on Saturday, taking a 3-1 lead after a two-run homer from Noah Franco in the top of the first inning and an RBI single from Jack Bell in the top of the second inning. It was another 15-hit performance for the Horned Frogs, who saw Colton Griffin deliver an RBI single for one of two TCU runs in the top of the sixth frame. Utah rallied to send the series finale into extra innings, though, tallying three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning before tying the score at 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Both teams scored one run in the 10th inning, sending the rubber match into the top of the 11th inning, where a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly put the Horned Frogs ahead 8-6. Nate Stern shined in late relief, posting scoreless 10th and 11th frames while striking out four batters to earn the win for the TCU side. Mason Brassfield started and pitched six and two-thirds innings, striking out six batters and allowing four earned runs on six hits.