OMAHA, Neb. (NCAA.com) — Luken Baker’s ninth inning, three-run home run propelled the TCU Horned Frogs to a 5-3 victory over Texas Tech Sunday afternoon. With the win, TCU improved to 4-0 all-time in its opening game of the College World Series.
A one-out single from Hunter Raley was the first base runner allowed by Brian Trieglaff. After a stolen base, Brian Trieglaff notched his fifth strikeout of the game to record the second out. Following an intentional walk, Hunter Hargrove jumped on the first pitch for an RBI-double and a 3-2 Texas Tech lead.
TCU fought back in the ninth inning. Austen Wade worked a full-count walk to start the frame. With one out, Evan Skoug lined a single into left field setting up Baker’s heroics. The freshman jumped on a 1-0 offering from Robert Duggar and hooked it just inside the left field foul pole for his 10th home run of the season and a 5-3 TCU lead.
Texas Tech opened the game’s scoring in the third. With two outs, Orlando Garcia reached on an infield single. Tanner Gardner’s double to left was bobbled, allowing Garcia to score for a 1-0 lead.
TCU answered with an unearned run of its own in the fourth. Elliott Barzilli drew a lead-off walk and stole second. He moved to third on an error by the second baseman and slid in safely on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Ryan Merrill.
Cam Warner’s sixth home run of the season with one out in the fifth put the Horned Frogs on top, 2-1.
Texas Tech responded in the bottom of the inning, taking advantage of a lead-off walk of its own. With two on and one out, Gardner doubled down the right field line to drive in the tying-run. Jared Janczak got a pop up for the second out, before giving way to Trieglaff struck out Tyler Nesloney to end the inning with the game tied at two.
Janczak started for the Frogs and went 4 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits. He walked one and struck out eight. Trieglaff allowed a run on two hits, walked one and struck out five in three innings. Ryan Burnett (3-1) picked up the win after retiring the only batter he faced in the eighth. Durbin Feltman pitched a perfect ninth with two strikeouts to earn his ninth save of the season.
Stat of the Game
2 — Sunday’s win was just TCU’s second when trailing after 8 innings. Luken Baker has provided the game-winning home run in both comebacks.
