OMAHA, Neb. — Nearly a week after a back-and-forth 6-5 victory over Pepperdine sent TCU to the College World Series, the Horned Frogs were at it again.
They scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to defeat Texas Tech, 3-2, in their opening round game of the College World Series Sunday afternoon at TD Ameritrade Park.
TCU (48-16) held a 1-0 lead for most of the game as Preston Morrison and Texas Tech starter Chris Sadberry dueled back and forth, but a two-run double by Tyler Neslony put the Red Raiders (45-20) ahead 2-1.
Neslony crushed a decent pitch from TCU stud sophomore closer Riley Ferrell, blasting it deep to right field where it nicked off Dylan Fitzgerald’s outstretched glove. Pinch runner Zach Davis and Anthony Lyons, who had knocked a pinch hit single off Ferrell, both scored.
But the lead was short lived. Keaton Jones hit an infield single and came around to score when Cody Jones’ infield single to almost the exact same spot behind second base was thrown away.
Cody Jones moved to second on the error and scored the game-winning run on Boomer White‘s single to left field. Cody Jones went 2-for-4 with two runs — both coming thanks to White. Keaton Jones reached base all three times, going 2-for-2 with a walk and a run.
Riley Ferrell vultured the win with a scoreless ninth inning to improve to 3-1 while Jonny Drozd (7-1) took the loss for Texas Tech.
Morrison finished with a career-high 10 strikeouts in 7.1 innings. He allowed one earned run on five hits. Sadberry allowed one earned run on three hits in seven innings pitched. He struck out five.
With the win, TCU advances to face the winner of Ole Miss/Virginia on Tuesday at 7 pm CST. Texas Tech will have to face the Ole Miss/Virginia loser at 2 pm the same day in an elimination game.
Here’s CBD photographer Shotgun Spratling‘s top shots from TCU’s 2014 College World Series opening round victory in TD Ameritrade Park:
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Be sure to check out our other coverage from TCU’s 3-2 victory:
