Home Mountain West Ole Miss and TCU split a doubleheader

Ole Miss and TCU split a doubleheader

by Brian Foley
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One of the marquee series of the weekend was TCU hosting Ole Miss for a three game set. The teams were rained out on Friday so we had a doubleheader with Ole Miss throwing Pitcher of the Year candidate Lance Lynn in Game 1. The full recaps are available below.

FROM TCU PRESS RELEASE

Game 1: Ole Miss 3 TCU 1

FORT WORTH, Texas – The TCU Horned Frogs took an early 1-0 lead, but a three-run outburst by #2 Ole Miss in the fourth inning proved to be the difference as the Frogs dropped the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader. Tyler Lockwood was dominate in relief as he limited the Rebels to just three hits in 5 2/3 innings of work. Steve Ellington led the offensive attack with two hits in the game.

The Frogs threatened to take an early lead in the second inning, but couldn’t collect the big hit as they left the bases loaded. Bryan Holaday got the Frogs started with a one-out single and moved to second on a base hit by Bryan Kervin. Steve Ellington battled through a long at-bat and singled through the right side to load the bases. Rebel starter Lance Lynn (3-0) won a battle of his own, retiring the final two batters in the inning to end the Frogs’ threat.

TCU finally cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning, picking up a run on one hit. Ben Carruthers worked a lead-off walk and scored from first on a Matt Vern double to right center, giving the Frogs a 1-0 lead.

Ole Miss struck for three runs to take a lead they would never relinquish. The Rebels tallied four straight hits to take a 2-1 lead. A failed pickoff attempt tied the game at one and Logan Power gave the Rebels the lead with a base hit to center. TCU starter Seth Garrison (0-2) got Zach Miller to fly out before walking Evan Button to load the bases with one out. Lockwood came on in relief and retired the only two batters he faced to end the inning with the Frogs only trailing 3-1.

The Frogs had chances to get back in the game as they had the lead-off batter on in three straight innings but couldn’t solve the Rebel pitching staff. In two of the three innings, the Frogs hit into double plays, ending threats.

Garrison allowed three runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out one in the loss. Lockwood was lights out in relief for the Horned Frogs as he threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings. He allowed just three hits, walked one and struck out four.

The Frogs fall to 5-5 on the season.

Game 2: TCU 5 Ole Miss 4

FORT WORTH, Texas – A dropped ball in center field gave the TCU Horned Frogs a 5-4 victory over #2 Ole Miss in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader at Lupton Stadium. With two outs and a runner on second base, Ben Carruthers laced a ball to deep center field. A misplay on the catch by Michael Hubbard allowed Aaron Schultz to score from second. Bryan Kervin was 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Frogs.

Andrew Cashner (3-0) surrendered a one-out walk in the top of the ninth, but Jordan Henry was caught stealing by Bryan Holaday and Logan Power flew out to end the inning, setting up the bottom of the frame.

Chris Ellington worked a four-pitch walk and gave way to Schultz, who pinch ran. Corey Steglich dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Schultz into scoring position. Ole Miss reliever Justin Cryer struck out the next batter and looked like he had retired Carruthers to send the game to extra innings. Hubbard appeared to have the ball deflect off his glove and it dropped in safely and Schultz touched home with the game-winning run.

TCU struck first in the bottom of the first inning, picking up a pair of two-out runs to take the early lead. Bryan Kervin singled with one out, but was erased on a ground ball off the bat of Clint Arnold. Bryan Holaday followed with a double to deep right field that plated Arnold from first. Matt Vern traded places with Holaday at second to make it a 2-0 contest. Right fielder Jordan Henry robbed Matt Carpenter of extra bases with a basket catch to end the inning.

The Rebels got the two runs back in the top of the second, taking advantage of a costly error. Shortstop Evan Button delivered a two-run double that tied the score at two. With Brett Basham at the plate, Button stole third, but TCU starter Steven Maxwell battled, striking out Basham and getting Henry to fly out to left, leaving the runner stranded at third.

The Frogs broke the tie with another two-spot in the bottom of the third. Carruthers was hit by the pitch to lead off the inning and moved to third on a bunt single off the bat of Kervin. Arnold walked to load the bases and Holaday picked up the go-ahead RBI, taking a pitch off the backside. The second run of the game scored when Vern hit into a double play and the Frogs led 4-2 after three.

Maxwell and the Frogs dodge a big bullet in the top of the fourth as the Rebels loaded the bases with no outs. Sean Stuyverson and Brett Basham both struck out and Maxwell got Henry to ground out to Kervin at short to squash the Rebel rally.

TCU had a chance to add to its lead in the sixth inning as the Frogs had a runner at third with one out. Steve Ellington laid down a bunt, but Vern was tagged out trying to score from third, ending the threat.

Maxwell went five innings in the no-decision. He allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits, walked two and fanned six. Trent Appleby worked two scoreless innings before Ole Miss struck for two in the top of the eighth to tie the game at four

Power walked to lead off the inning and moved to second on a base hit from Cody Overbeck. A balk by Appleby moved the runners up 90 feet and a ground ball off the bat of Matt Smith made it a 4-3 game. Michael Guerrero tied the game with a double to left center. Cashner came on and held the Rebels in check to preserve the tie.

Cashner earned the win after pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. He didn’t allow a hit and walked just one batter.

The Frogs improve to 6-5 on the campaign. They will go for the series win on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Greg Holle will take the mound for TCU against Ole Miss’ Nathan Baker.

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1 comment

Summer Ball March 9, 2008 - 6:12 am

Yea, I was at the game….(see my post yesterday)….Lynn was just about unhittable in Game 1. Besides being cold, it was a great day. Lupton Stadium is a neat park, and TCU always draws well. Tyler Lockwood was impressive for the Frogs as well. He doesn’t throw as hard as Lynn, but was effective.

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