TCU hammers Dallas Baptist

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FROM CBB NEWS SOURCES
FRISCO, Texas – Trailing 2-0 heading into the seventh inning, the TCU Horned Frog offense came to life, scoring 20 runs in the final three innings to come away with a 20-3 win over Dallas Baptist Monday night at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco. Bryan Kervin was the offensive star driving home three runs with four hits. Ben Carruthers also drove in five with two hits. Gerrish pitched seven strong innings for the Frogs to earn the victory.

TCU fell into another early deficit as Dallas Baptist picked up two runs on two hits in the bottom of the first inning. Austin Knight drew a lead-off walk and moved to third on an Evan Bigley base hit with just one out. Andrew Pirtle plated the run with a sacrifice fly to left. A Bigley stolen base was instrumental in the Patriots second run as he was able to score on a Trevor Head single through the left side.

The Patriots had numerous chances to add to their lead as they had at least two runners on in four of the first five innings. TCU starter Paul Gerrish was able to work out of jams each time to keep it a two-run deficit for the Horned Frogs.

Dallas Baptist held the Frogs in check through six innings, but the missed opportunities by the Patriots came back to haunt them as the Frogs were able to battle back with a seven-run outburst in the top of the seventh. A big error by the shortstop Austin Knight that would have been the final out of the inning allowed the flood gates to open. The game was already tied at two, but the error kept the inning alive as the Frogs scored five more times in the inning to open up a 7-2 lead.

Bryan Kervin got the inning going with a single through the left side and scored on a one-out triple from Matt Carpenter, cutting the Dallas Baptist lead in half. Clint Arnold greeted the new Patriot pitcher, Chris Haney (1-2) with a single through the drawn-in infield to tie the game. Haney was able to record the second out of the inning but struggled with the strike zone following the out as he walked Steve Ellington and hit Jimmie Pharr to load the bases.

Brett Medlin smoked the ball to the Knight at short, but he was unable to field the ball cleanly and Arnold crossed the plate with the go-ahead run. Ben Carruthers was hit by the pitch to drive in another run and Kervin connected with his second single of the inning to drive in two more. Bryan Holaday singled home the seventh and final run of the inning to give TCU a five-run cushion.

Gerrish (2-1) was effective in his seven innings of work to earn his second win of the season. He allowed two runs on seven hits. The sophomore walked just one batter and struck out seven. Dillon Farish allowed on a run on two hits in two innings pitched. He struck out five in the contest.

Another six runs crossed the plate for the Horned Frogs as the hit parade continued. They pounded out seven more hits in the eighth inning. Arnold ignited the eighth inning outburst with a double to lead off the inning. Pinch runner Eric Givens scored on a Steve Ellington base hit. Chris Ellington singled and Medlin walked to load the bases for Carruthers who drove in two more runs with a base hit to right. Kervin collected an RBI double, while Holaday and Carpenter each tallied RBI singles to round out the scoring in the inning.

Seven more runs crossed the plate in the top of the ninth inning, helped along by six hits and another Dallas Baptist error.

The Frogs improve to 11-10 on the season. They will return home for a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon as the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders come to Lupton Stadium. Game one is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start time.