TCU Cruises To Championship Game
5/26/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 26, 2018
OKLAHOMA CITY â€" A seven-run fourth inning was all TCU needed to secure its spot in the Big 12 Championship game on Sunday as the Horned Frogs defeated West Virginia 7-3 on Saturday afternoon.
The Rundown
West Virginia opened the scoring with a run in the second. Kyle Gray led off the inning with a bloop single to right. Two batters later, he scored on a Jimmy Galusky base knock for a 1-0 lead.
TCU wiggled out of a jam in the third to keep it a one-run deficit. A one-out single was followed by a pair of two out walks to load the bases. Coby Boulware made a run-saving, diving stop at second to end the inning.
The Frogs took the momentum into the fourth inning and sent 12 men to the plate, scoring seven times. Michael Landestoy's bunt single ignited the offense. A base hit from Johnny Rizer followed by a one-out walk to Connor Wanhanen loaded the bases. Adam Oviedo had the at-bat of the game as he worked a 10-pitch walk to drive in the tying run. Conner Shepherd followed with another long at-bat, battling back from an 0-2 count to draw the third straight walk of the inning for a 2-1 lead.
With two outs, doubles from Josh Watson, A.J. Balta and Landestoy broke the game open as TCU stormed out to a 7-1 lead.
The Mountaineers scored single runs in the fifth and seventh, but Charles King (2-2) minimized the damage to keep the Frogs comfortably in the lead. He picked up the win in relief with four innings of work. He allowed two runs on five hits and struck out two. Cal Coughlin closed out the victory giving up one base runner in 2 1/3 innings of work.
Stat of the Game
9 â€" For the ninth time in program history, TCU will be playing in a conference championship game. It'll be the third time in five years that TCU will appear in the Big 12 Tournament championship game.
Notes
• TCU is undefeated heading into the championship game for the sixth time in program history (2005, 06, 07, 10, 14).
• TCU went undefeated in bracket play in the Big 12 for the second time (2014).
• TCU improved to 40-15 in conference tournaments under head coach Jim Schlossnagle.
• TCU is 46-29 all-time in conference tournaments.
• TCU is now 15-7 in Big 12 Tournament play.
• TCU played errorless baseball for the 23rd time this season.
• TCU allowed the first run for the 25th time this season.
• A.J. Balta, Johnny Rizer and Conner Shepherd have reached safely in 11 straight games.
• Balta collected his 14th multi-RBI game of the season and the 38th of his career.
• Coby Boulware recorded his 19th multi-hit game of the season.
• Josh Watson picked up his 8th multi-RBI game of the season and the 31st of his career.
• Michael Landestoy tallied his 19th multi-RBI game of the year and the 25th of his career.
• Johnny Rizer picked up his ninth multi-hit game of the season.
Next Up
With the victory, TCU improves to 33-22 overall. TCU advances to the Big 12 Championship game on Sunday against Baylor. The game will be televised on FSN at 1 p.m.
OKLAHOMA CITY â€" A seven-run fourth inning was all TCU needed to secure its spot in the Big 12 Championship game on Sunday as the Horned Frogs defeated West Virginia 7-3 on Saturday afternoon.
The Rundown
West Virginia opened the scoring with a run in the second. Kyle Gray led off the inning with a bloop single to right. Two batters later, he scored on a Jimmy Galusky base knock for a 1-0 lead.
TCU wiggled out of a jam in the third to keep it a one-run deficit. A one-out single was followed by a pair of two out walks to load the bases. Coby Boulware made a run-saving, diving stop at second to end the inning.
The Frogs took the momentum into the fourth inning and sent 12 men to the plate, scoring seven times. Michael Landestoy's bunt single ignited the offense. A base hit from Johnny Rizer followed by a one-out walk to Connor Wanhanen loaded the bases. Adam Oviedo had the at-bat of the game as he worked a 10-pitch walk to drive in the tying run. Conner Shepherd followed with another long at-bat, battling back from an 0-2 count to draw the third straight walk of the inning for a 2-1 lead.
With two outs, doubles from Josh Watson, A.J. Balta and Landestoy broke the game open as TCU stormed out to a 7-1 lead.
The Mountaineers scored single runs in the fifth and seventh, but Charles King (2-2) minimized the damage to keep the Frogs comfortably in the lead. He picked up the win in relief with four innings of work. He allowed two runs on five hits and struck out two. Cal Coughlin closed out the victory giving up one base runner in 2 1/3 innings of work.
Stat of the Game
9 â€" For the ninth time in program history, TCU will be playing in a conference championship game. It'll be the third time in five years that TCU will appear in the Big 12 Tournament championship game.
Notes
• TCU is undefeated heading into the championship game for the sixth time in program history (2005, 06, 07, 10, 14).
• TCU went undefeated in bracket play in the Big 12 for the second time (2014).
• TCU improved to 40-15 in conference tournaments under head coach Jim Schlossnagle.
• TCU is 46-29 all-time in conference tournaments.
• TCU is now 15-7 in Big 12 Tournament play.
• TCU played errorless baseball for the 23rd time this season.
• TCU allowed the first run for the 25th time this season.
• A.J. Balta, Johnny Rizer and Conner Shepherd have reached safely in 11 straight games.
• Balta collected his 14th multi-RBI game of the season and the 38th of his career.
• Coby Boulware recorded his 19th multi-hit game of the season.
• Josh Watson picked up his 8th multi-RBI game of the season and the 31st of his career.
• Michael Landestoy tallied his 19th multi-RBI game of the year and the 25th of his career.
• Johnny Rizer picked up his ninth multi-hit game of the season.
Next Up
With the victory, TCU improves to 33-22 overall. TCU advances to the Big 12 Championship game on Sunday against Baylor. The game will be televised on FSN at 1 p.m.
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