The Horned Frogs held off the Red Raiders 4-3 on Sunday.
TCU baseball overcame a tough series-opening loss against Texas Tech on Friday evening, outlasting the Red Raiders on Saturday and Sunday to secure a much-needed Big 12 Conference series win. The Horned Frogs (22-12, 7-11 Big 12) didn’t play any midweek games before the Texas Tech series, as both contests against UTRGV were canceled due to inclement weather. TCU will travel to face Abilene Christian on Tuesday before resuming conference action with a three-game series against the Texas Longhorns in Austin.
Strike out No. 11 for @RolleTolle49 strands a couple of runners.#FrogballUSA | #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/wkWbaz6DVh
— TCU Baseball (@TCU_Baseball) April 13, 2024
Friday: Texas Tech 7, TCU 1
Left-hander Payton Tolle turned in another high-strikeout performance in the series opener Friday evening, putting down 11 batters on 99 pitches over five innings while holding the Red Raiders to three earned runs. The Horned Frogs were unable to deliver out of the bullpen, as both Zack Morris and Andrew Mosiello conceded two earned runs.
Karson Bowen drove in TCU’s lone run of the game, belting a solo shot in the bottom of the third inning. Texas Tech took the lead with three runs in the top of the fourth inning before tallying runs in both the sixth and eighth innings to go ahead 5-1. A pair of RBI singles in the top of the ninth inning helped seal the win for the Red Raiders.
Frogs tie the game on a two-out triple off the bat of Logan Maxwell!#FrogballUSA | #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/UJDF5eZmah
— TCU Baseball (@TCU_Baseball) April 13, 2024
Saturday: TCU 4, Texas Tech 2
Kurtis Byrne’s RBI single in the bottom of the first inning allowed the Horned Frogs to take the early lead over Texas Tech in the middle game on Saturday. Texas Tech answered quickly, however, sending a two-run double into the outfield to jump ahead 2-1. The seesaw affair continued into the bottom of the third inning, where Logan Maxwell tied the score with an RBI triple to center field that scored Sam Myers. Both teams went quiet on the offensive end until Luke Boyers delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Ben Abeldt does the job! He gets a big strikeout to end the sixth with two runners in scoring position.@AbeldtBen | #FrogballUSA | #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/qA3qHHm40K
— TCU Baseball (@TCU_Baseball) April 13, 2024
Peyton Chatagnier’s RBI bunt single in the bottom of the eighth inning put the Horned Frogs ahead 4-2. Right-hander Louis Rodriguez submitted a quality outing on the pitcher’s mound, throwing five and one-third innings with four strikeouts while allowing only two runs. Left-hander Ben Abeldt earned the win out of the bullpen, firing two and two-thirds innings and striking out three batters before handing the baseball to right-hander Kole Klecker, who tossed a shutout frame in the top of the ninth inning to earn his first save of the season.
Luke Boyers with a souvenir for his friends in right field!@Luke_Boyers | #FrogballUSA | #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/VqdCavkiX3
— TCU Baseball (@TCU_Baseball) April 14, 2024
Sunday: TCU 4, Texas Tech 3
Luke Boyers crushed a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning during Sunday’s series finale, giving TCU a 3-0 advantage. Texas Tech slowly worked its way back into the game, smacking RBI doubles in both the second and third innings before tying the game with an RBI groundout in the top of the fourth inning. Ryder Robinson put the Horned Frogs back ahead in the bottom of the fourth inning, sending an RBI single into center.
Back on top!@ryderrobinson84 with a rope up the middle to drive in @FisherIngersoll for a 4-3 lead!#FrogballUSA | #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/wjloQPsuBF
— TCU Baseball (@TCU_Baseball) April 14, 2024
TCU’s bullpen successfully secured the one-run win, with left-hander Ben Hampton as well as right-handers Zachary Cawyer and Caedmon Parker combining for four strikeouts over five and two-thirds innings of shutout baseball. Freshman righty Mason Bixby earned the start for TCU, firing three and two-thirds innings while striking out six Texas Tech hitters.