TCU beats Virginia, remains alive at College World Series

Charles Baggarly
·3 min read
2

The TCU Horned Frogs’ baseball season is still alive.

Unlike the opening game of the College World Series, TCU held onto a lead and defeated Virginia 4-3 on Sunday at Charles Schwab Stadium. Sam Stoutenborough’s strong start provided the Frogs with an opportunity, and the offense did just enough to stay ahead.

TCU will face the loser of Sunday night’s Oral Roberts-Florida game at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Centerfielder Elijah Nunez, catcher Karson Bowen, shortstop Anthony Silva and right fielder Austin Davis tallied multi-hit games. First baseman Cole Fontenelle recorded a team-high two RBIs.

Just enough offense

The Horned Frogs set up what could’ve been a big first inning with leadoff hits from Nunez and Bowen. After a strikeout from Brayden Taylor, they settled for a sacrifice fly from Fontenelle.

Associate head coach TJ Bruce’s offense had another opportunity after a two-out double from left fielder Logan Maxwell and an infield single from Davis. The West Virginia transfer attempted to steal second base and would’ve been safe; he hesitated and was thrown out to end the threat.

The Horned Frogs made up for the blunder in the third inning with base hits from Bowen and Taylor. Fontenelle was able to plate Bowen with a groundout to first, collecting his fifth RBI in the College World Series.

Both teams made no offensive progress until the sixth inning; Nunez plated Silva with his second hit of the ballgame, a two-out single to right center field. Silva singled and Davis walked to set up the scoring opportunity.

Another starting pitching duel

Stoutenborough had a rough start to the ballgame, allowing hits to Griff O’Ferrall and Ethan O’Donnell, the first two batters faced. Jake Gelof moved a runner home.

After, Stoutenborough settled in and retired 12 consecutive batters. The graduate transfer pitcher kept the Horned Frogs in the game; Stoutenborough was pulled with two runners on in the fifth inning and Garrett Wright took over, forcing a ground out to end the threat.

Stoutenborough allowed two hits and one earned run, all of which was in the first inning. He had two walks and a three strikeouts in 64 total pitches.

Virginia starter Connelly Early had a similar start to Stoutenborough, allowing a run in the first inning after two leadoff base hits. The Horned Frogs made Early work for outs by extending at bats; Early allowed another run in the third inning and was pulled after the fifth with 101 total pitches.

The closing moments

Ethan Anderson cut the Frogs’ lead with a solo home run to left field. Wright responded with two strikeouts and ended the inning with a forced groundout to third base.

Davis provided some insurance with an RBI double, reaching safely for the fourth time in the contest. In a pitching oriented ballgame, the Frogs increased their slim lead.

The Cavaliers quickly crept back into striking distance. Wright allowed a leadoff single to Harrison Didawick, who stole second. After a fly ball moved Didawick to third, Ben Abeldt took over for Wright; the freshman left-hander recorded two outs to end the inning but couldn’t prevent Didawick from scoring.

TCU failed to increase its lead in the ninth inning. Abeldt made his way back out to close the game and secured two outs. After a single from Casey Saucke and an error from Nunez, the Cavaliers had the tying run in scoring position.

A base hit could’ve tied the ballgame. However, Abeldt struck out Anthony Stephan, eliminating Virginia from the College World Series.

Charles Baggarly writes for TCU.360.com which has a media partnership with the Star-Telegram.