OMAHA, Neb. – TCU took advantage of two big innings and a series of LSU miscues to move past the Tigers 10-3 in Game 3 of the 2015 Men’s College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. The lopsided victory was the second in as many days at the 2015 CWS, after Florida defeated Miami 15-3 in Game 2.
The game started out as a pitcher’s duel. LSU starter Jared Poché retired the first nine batters he faced before he overthrew two consecutive ground balls that TCU converted to runs in the fourth.
The Horned Frogs compounded their lead in the fifth. With one out and the bases loaded, Cody Jones hit a grounder that the third baseman misplayed, allowing Keaton Jones to score and Cody Jones to reach. Jeremie Fagnan was hit by a pitch to plate the second run of the inning. Connor Wanhanen drove home
the next two runners with a single to right field.
Relief pitcher Hunter Newman entered the game and ended the rally after one batter. Evan Skoug hit into a fielder’s choice that saw Fagnan thrown out in a rundown between third and home and
Wanhanen doubled off trying to get to third.
But the Tigers were not able to dig themselves out of the hole, and TCU put the game away for good in the seventh with another four-run inning. With one out, Cody Jones was hit by the pitch. He stole
second and third and scored when the pickoff throw by the catcher went awry. Later, Dane Steinhagen drove in another with an RBI single up the middle. Derek Odell followed with a double deep into the gap in right center that knocked in Skoug and Steinhagen.
Poché (9-2) took the loss in 4.1 innings of work where he allowed six runs (three earned) on four hits with a wild pitch and a hit batter.
Preston Morrison shone in the win for TCU as he improved to 12-3 on the year. He allowed one run on five hits, struck out five and retired the last 12 batters he faced. The Tigers had a chance to score in the third when Jared Foster singled and stole second. Jake Fraley’s single looked to be enough to drive him home, but center fielder Cody Jones had an on-target throw to catcher Skoug, who blocked the plate and tagged Foster out.
The Tigers scored their first run in the fourth on a pair of singles and a pair of groundouts.
They then mounted a late rally in the eighth. Foster hit a home run down the left field line. It was the third HR of the 2015 CWS, which ties the series totals for each of the previous two years. Fraley then reached on a walk and came home on a single to right by Kade Scivicque. But Conner Hale grounded out to end the rally.
Cody Jones led the Frogs with three runs scored, though he did not record a hit. He was the beneficiary of three errors and reached base four times, twice on a hit by pitch and twice on errors. Wanhanen finished 3-for-4 and led TCU with three runs batted in.
