TCU
Hawaii-HIlo
Frogs Baseball Rallies in Ninth, Beats Hilo, 9-7
4/15/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
FORT WORTH, Texas (Apr. 15) -- Tom Bates' three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth lifted TCU past Hawaii-Hilo, 9-7, Saturday at the TCU Diamond. TCU improves to 17-25 overall, 8-9 in Western Athletic Conference play. Hilo drops to 14-26 overall, 5-16 in the WAC.
Bates' home run in the ninth put the Frogs on top for the first time in the game. Levi Groomer led things off in the ninth as he reached second on Hilo pitcher Jason Lippert's throwing error. On Erick Macha's fly out to center field, Groomer tagged and advanced to third. Center fielder Brian Rooke's throw sailed out of the park, allowing Groomer to trot home with TCU's sixth run of the game. After Mark Hamilton walked, Hilo brought in closer Ben Siff to face Brad Rogers, who singled to left field. Bates then hit the very next pitch out, driving in three runs. Siff suffered the loss, dropping his record to 2-4.
The Vulcans took a 7-1 lead into the seventh, when the Frogs rallied for three runs. Ramon Moses doubled and scored on Erick Macha's single. Hamilton doubled home Groomer, who had been hit by a pitch, and Macha, closing the Hilo lead to two runs.
Bates ended the day with three hits - double, triple, home run - and three runs batted in. Groomer was hit twice in the game, raising his single-season school-record total to 21. Hamilton had three doubles in the game, tying the TCU single-game record for doubles. Hamilton had seven hits in the series, including five for extra bases. As a team, the Frogs had eight extra base hits in the game.
Stan Newton earned the win for the Frogs. Newton struck out two in his only inning of work, raising his record to 1-2. Hilo starting pitcher Kaholo Rickard allowed four runs on seven hits, one walk and six strikeouts in 6.2 innings.
Hilo scored a pair of runs in the second on three hits, including a solo home run by Rooke - his first of the season. The Vulcans added five runs in the sixth, chasing TCU starter David Tombrella. The junior pitcher gave up a one-out single, then issued consecutive walks to load the bases. After he hit Dana McCracken with a pitch, Chris Frazier entered the game, replacing Tombrella. Frazier hit Mike Hobbs with a pitch, forcing a second run home. With two outs, Brandon Chaves tripled to right center field, clearing the bases as Hilo increased the lead to 7-1. Tombrella allowed six runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings.
TCU won the first two games in the series by scores of 11-5 and 2-1. The Frogs will return to action on Thursday, April 20th when they open a three-game series at San Jose State.
Game Linescore 123 456 789 R H E Hawaii-Hilo 002 005 000 - 7 11 2TCU 000 100 314 - 9 11 1Kaholo Rickard, Jason Lippert (7), Ben Siff (9) and Dana McCracken. David Tombrella, Chris Frazier (6), Stan Newton (9) and Brad Rogers.Winning Pitcher-Newton (1-2). Losing Pitcher- Siff (2-4.2B -- TCU- Hamilton 3, Bates, Reed, Moses. 3B -- UHH-Chaves. TCU- BatesHR - UHH- Rooke (1). TCU- Bates (3).Attn: 332. Time-2:33
