TCU Suffers Heartbreaking Setback

Saturday, May 30

Fort Worth, Texas

8:05 PM

TCU

44-12

NC State

36-21

NC State

TCU

TCU Suffers Heartbreaking Setback

5/31/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

May 31, 2015

Final Stats | Notes | Photo Gallery

FORT WORTH - With one on and two out in the ninth, NC State's Chance Shepard hit a home run to center field to help the Wolfpack rally for a 5-4 win over TCU Saturday night.

Riley Ferrell (1-3) struck out the first two batters in the ninth inning before issuing a five-pitch walk to Ryne Willard. Facing a 1-1 count, Shepard connected and lifted his sixth home run of the season over the center field fence to put the Wolfpack on top 5-4.

TCU had a chance in the bottom of the ninth after a lead-off double from Nolan Brown. A failed sacrifice bunt, a ground out and a strike out ended the game, sending NC State into the regional championship game.

The Horned Frogs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Garrett Crain hit a sinking line drive to left field that snuck under the glove of the outfielder and rolled all the way to the wall. Flying around the bases, Crain raced home with an inside-the-park home run to give the Frogs a 1-0 lead.

Disaster struck for the Frogs in the top of the fourth after a lead-off single, an error on a potential double play ball and a walk loaded the bases with nobody out. Williard lined a double down the left field line to give NC State a 2-1 lead. A wild pitch followed to extend the lead to two, 3-1.

The damage was minimized as Derek Odell made a strong play at third to corral a hot smash. He threw home to get the runner trying to score, then Preston Morrison got Jake Fincher to ground into an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play.

Jeremie Fagnan launched a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the inning to pull the Frogs back within one, 3-2.

Heading to the sixth, still trailing by one, Crain once again ignited the offense. He tripled to lead off the inning and scored on a base hit back up the middle by Cody Jones to tie the game at three.

TCU regain its lead in the seventh. Dane Steinhagen led off the frame with a base hit and moved to second on a Brown sacrifice. Keaton Jones drew a walk and Derek Odell was hit by the pitch to load the bases with only one out. Crain put the Frogs on top, 4-3, with a sacrifice fly.

Morrison worked around a lead-off single in the eighth before giving way to the bullpen in the ninth. He finished the night, tying his career high with 10 strikeouts. Morrison allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and walked two in the no-decision.

With the loss, TCU (44-12) falls into the loser's bracket and will face Stony Brook in an elimination game Sunday afternoon at 2:30 on ESPN3. Tyler Alexander will get the start for the Horned Frogs.