May 24, 2002

Box Score

KINSTON, N.C. - Despite a 2-for-4 performance from Terry Trofholz (Plano, Texas/Plano Senior/Creighton), which gave the junior TCU single-season record-tying 94 hits for the season, the Horned Frogs were only able to muster one run off South Florida starter David Austen and fell 2-1 to the Bulls Friday night. The setback eliminated TCU from the Conference USA Tournament.

After South Florida (33-26) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Horned Frogs needed just two batters to tie the game. Left fielder Chris Meeks (Brownwood, Texas/Brownwood/Eastfield J.C.) opened the bottom of the first with a triple to left center field. A batter later, Trofholz drove him in with a single to right center, knotting the game at 1-1. The Frogs missed an opportunity to take a 2-1 lead when Trofholz was thrown out at home trying to score from first on an error by USF's Myron Leslie.

South Florida first baseman Chris Cuccia opened the second inning by drilling the first pitch of the frame over Grainger Stadium's center field wall with what amounted to the game-winning home run.

From there, the story was a pair of sterling pitching performances by Austen and TCU's Ryan Weems (Roswell, N.M./Goddard/New Mexico St.).

Austen hurled his first-career complete game, allowing just one run on six hits and striking out a career-high six. After TCU notched two hits in the first, the right-hander allowed just four over the next five frames. The last of those five was a bunt single by Trofholz to lead off the sixth. The hit tied Trofholz with all-American Royce Huffman for the TCU record for single-season hits. Huffman earned the honor in 1999.

Weems was equally impressive in relief of TCU starter Patrick Newburn (Grapevine, Texas/Grapevine/NE Texas C.C.). The southpaw also matched career highs with seven strikeouts in 5.1 innings. He allowed just four hits and no runs in the outing.

But it was not enough as Austen got stronger as the game went on, not allowing a base hit over the game's last three innings.

USF goes on to face East Carolina Saturday afternoon in the C-USA semifinals while TCU's season ends with a 30-29 record.