FORT WORTH, Texas – Chris Ellington’s eighth-inning two-out double drove in what proved to be the game-winning run as TCU defeated No. 29 Baylor Tuesday night at Lupton Stadium. Two unearned runs scored by the Frogs proved to be the difference in the contest. Seth Garrison was outstanding on the mound for the Frogs as he allowed just one run in 6 2/3 innings. Andrew Cashner (4-1) picked up the win in relief, striking out three batters in 1 1/3 innings pitched.
Baylor relief pitcher Craig Fritsch looked to have pitched a perfect eighth inning, but a passed ball on a strikeout allowed Matt Vern to reach first safely. With a 1-2 count at the plate, Vern took off from first and Chris Ellington connected for a long double to deep center field allowing Vern to score easily with the go-ahead run. Cashner pitched a perfect ninth inning, striking out Ben Booker looking to end the game.
TCU opened up the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first. Ben Carruthers was hit on the backside with the first pitch he saw. Bryan Kervin followed with an infield single after battling through a 10-pitch at-bat. The duo executed a double steal and Carruthers scored on a ground out from Bryan Holaday.
After the Frogs failed to capitalize on a golden opportunity to add to their lead in the bottom of the second the Bears came back to tie the game in the top of the third. Landis Ware was hit by the pitch to lead off the inning and moved to second on a ground out and scored on a two-out single from Shaver Hansen.
A throwing error by Baylor shortstop Beamer Weems extended the fifth inning for the Frogs and they made it hurt. Steve Ellington made the error hurt as he ripped a triple in the gap in right center to drive home Holaday with the go-ahead run.
Garrison was terrific through five innings, allowing just one run on two hits. He ran into a bit of a jam in the sixth inning after a one-out hit and a walk put two runners on with only one out. Garrison was able to get out of the jam inducing two fly balls off the bats of Raynor Campbell and Dustin Dickerson to end the inning.
Garrison finished the night allowing one run on three hits in 6 2/3 innings pitched. He walked two and struck out a season-high eight batters.
Baylor again threatened to tie the game in the seventh as they rallied with two outs. Garrison retired the first two batters in the inning before walking Jon Ringenberg. Eric Marshall came on in relief and got Weems to ground out to end the inning with runners on the corners.
Pinch-hitter Ben Booker sent a towering fly ball over the right field fence to open the eighth inning, tying the game at two. Marshall quickly retired the next two batters before allowing back-to-back singles. Cashner came on and walker Aaron Miller to load the bases then proceeded to strikeout Ringenberg on a 3-2 pitch to end the inning and leave the bases full of Bears, setting up the Frogs eighth-inning rally.
The Frogs improve to 15-12 on the season with the win. They will hit the road briefly for a Wednesday night rematch with Texas State in San Marcos. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m.
