April 28, 2009

Final Stats

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The No. 15 TCU Horned Frogs dropped a heartbreaker Tuesday night at No. 20 Texas A&M 4-3 in 10 innings. The Frogs had a 3-2 lead heading into the eighth inning, but couldn't hold on as they fell to 0-2 in extra innings this season. TCU was led at the plate by Taylor Featherston with three hits and Chris Ellington with two RBIs.

TCU threatened early and often, but couldn't come up with the big hit in the early innings. Featherston doubled with one out and moved to third with two outs, but a great play by the third baseman Caleb Shofner on a hard smash off the bat of Matt Vern ended the inning.

After holding the Aggies in check for the first two innings, Kyle Winkler fell behind Adam Smith and he made it hurt as he connected for his eighth home run of the season to give Texas A&M the 1-0 lead.

The Frogs mounted a rally in the fourth, but again couldn't get the big hit. Vern doubled to lead off the inning and Bryan Holaday was hit by Clayton Ehlert to put two on with nobody out. Jason Coats dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Ehlert got out of the jam with a pop up and a ground out.

In the bottom of the inning, the Aggies turned a lead-off single into another run as they opened up a two-run advantage. Luke Anders singled and Kyle Colligan followed with a double. Trent Appleby came on in relief and retired the next three batters he faced, allowing just the one run. He struck out the final two batters in the frame.

TCU finally cracked the scoreboard in the top of the fifth, scoring three runs on three hits. Featherston led off the frame with his third hit of the night and moved to second on a walk to Matt Carpenter. Ellington doubled to the gap in left center, tying the game at two. With one out, Holaday chopped the ball through a drawn-in infield for an RBI single and a 3-2 Horned Frog lead.

Appleby did a great job holding the Aggies in check as he worked around two errors and two hits to get to the eighth inning.

But the Aggies finally solved the righty as Anders tied the game with one swing of the bat connecting for his ninth home run of the season. Back-to-back walks to the Aggies ended Appleby's night and brought on Erik Miller. The freshman did his job, striking out the final two batters to end the inning without any further damage.

Offensively, the Frogs could not solve the Aggie bullpen as Kyle Thebeau and Nick Fleece held the Frogs just three hits in the final five innings.

Anders again proved to be the thorn in the Frogs side as he drew a one-out walk from Walker Kelly (1-2). Joe Patterson lined a two-out single up the middle to drive in the winning run.

Winkler allowed two runs on four hits in three innings. Appleby gave up just the one run on three hits in 4 1/3 innings of work with four strikeouts. Miller tossed two scoreless innings with a walk and four Ks.

The Frogs fall to 27-13 overall. They return to the diamond Wednesday night as the Frogs begin a seven game home stand. First pitch against Houston Baptist is set for 6:30 p.m.